Chris Randall Sorensen, the former Florida firefighter who helped transform a single sandwich shop into the nationally recognized Firehouse Subs restaurant chain, has died at the age of 65.
Sorensen passed away peacefully at his home in St. Johns, Florida, on Sunday, October 11, 2026, surrounded by his family, according to an obituary published by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home.
He died five days before his 66th birthday.
Best known for co-founding Firehouse Subs with his younger brother, Robin Sorensen, in 1994, Chris built a remarkable career that combined entrepreneurship, public service, creativity and philanthropy.
The brothers launched their first restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida, and spent the following decades developing it into one of America’s best-known sandwich brands.
But Chris’s accomplishments went far beyond the restaurant industry.
He served as a firefighter and emergency medical technician, pursued a successful career as a musician, helped establish a charitable foundation supporting first responders and remained deeply devoted to his family.
His death has prompted tributes from people who knew him through the fire service, restaurant industry and Jacksonville community.
Chris Sorensen’s Death Confirmed at 65
Chris Randall Sorensen died on October 11, 2026, at his home in St. Johns, Florida.
His family confirmed the death through an official obituary issued by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home.
Born on October 16, 1960, in Jacksonville, Sorensen spent most of his life in Northeast Florida.
He had lived in St. Johns for approximately 30 years.
His obituary describes him as a devoted family man whose interests and achievements included firefighting, music, business ownership, philanthropy, history and art.
Although he was publicly known for establishing Firehouse Subs, his family emphasized that his greatest source of pride was his relationship with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Local television stations, including News4JAX and Action News Jax, subsequently reported his passing.
Chris Sorensen Cause of Death: What Has Been Disclosed?
The family’s obituary confirms that Chris Sorensen died peacefully at home with his loved ones beside him.
However, it does not publicly identify a specific medical cause of death.
The obituary describes him as a cancer survivor, establishing that he had previously experienced cancer.
That does not mean cancer caused his death.
No reliable medical statement reviewed for this article confirms a recurrence, a particular illness or a fatal complication.
The distinction is important because a person’s past medical history cannot independently establish why they died.
Until the family or another authorized source provides additional information, Sorensen’s medical cause of death should be described as not publicly disclosed.
Who Was Chris Randall Sorensen?
Chris Randall Sorensen was an American entrepreneur, former firefighter, musician and philanthropist.
He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Robert and Wanda Sorensen.
His father, Robert Sorensen, served in the Jacksonville fire service and became known as Captain Video.
The family also operated San Jose Television, an independent retail business in Jacksonville.
Growing up around both firefighting and entrepreneurship helped shape Chris’s interests.
Although he eventually became a successful restaurant founder, his first professional ambition was music.
He developed considerable skill as a guitarist and pursued performing before entering the fire service.
His varied interests continued throughout his life, contributing to a professional identity that extended far beyond restaurants.
His Early Career as a Musician
Before Firehouse Subs became a national brand, Chris Sorensen dreamed of becoming a professional musician.
He was a talented guitarist who performed professionally for several years.
According to his family’s obituary, his musical abilities created opportunities to play with or sit in alongside performers associated with several well-known bands.
These included Earth, Wind & Fire, Lonestar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Huey Lewis and the News, and Foreigner.
Music remained an important part of his life even after he pursued other careers.
He continued playing multiple instruments and maintained a strong appreciation for artistic expression.
His creative abilities would later prove valuable when he and his brother established Firehouse Subs.
Chris became particularly involved in the restaurant chain’s visual presentation, interior design and brand identity.
Following His Father’s Footsteps Into Firefighting
Sorensen eventually chose a career in public service.
Following his father’s example, he became a firefighter and emergency medical technician.
He began with the Brevard County Fire Department, where he worked for four years.
He then spent approximately one year with Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue.
Later, he joined the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
He served there for more than a decade, working as an engineer and emergency medical technician.
His responsibilities placed him in situations where quick decisions, teamwork and public trust were essential.
The experience shaped his understanding of the needs of emergency responders.
It also became central to the business he would later build.
Although he eventually left professional firefighting to focus on restaurants, his commitment to public safety continued throughout his life.
How Chris and Robin Sorensen Founded Firehouse Subs
In 1994, Chris and his younger brother Robin opened their first Firehouse Subs restaurant in Jacksonville’s Mandarin area.
Both brothers had experience in firefighting and shared a passion for food.
They decided to create a sandwich restaurant that reflected their fire-service background while offering distinctive meals.
The concept combined hearty sandwiches with a recognizable firefighter-inspired identity.
The name Firehouse Subs connected the business directly to the profession that had influenced both brothers.
Their first restaurant was a modest operation, and the early years required significant effort.
The brothers faced the challenges common to new businesses, including limited resources and the need to build a reliable customer base.
Over time, they developed a restaurant model that could expand through franchising.
Their shared vision eventually became a successful national brand.
Building Firehouse Subs Into a Major Restaurant Chain
What began as a small Jacksonville restaurant grew into a business with more than 1,200 locations.
Chris and Robin spent approximately 27 years developing the company before selling it in 2021.
At that stage, the chain had annual systemwide sales exceeding $1 billion.
Its success reflected a combination of menu development, brand recognition, operational consistency and expansion through franchising.
The brothers also established an identity that differentiated Firehouse Subs from competing sandwich restaurants.
Firehouse-themed interiors, recognizable menu items and a connection to public safety became defining features of the brand.
Chris played a particularly important role in shaping the customer-facing environment.
His family’s obituary describes him as the creative force behind the interior appearance of Firehouse Subs restaurants.
That contribution helped turn the company’s firefighting origins into a distinctive experience for customers.
The Creative Vision Behind Firehouse Subs
Chris Sorensen contributed more than business leadership to Firehouse Subs.
He helped design the visual identity that customers encountered when entering the restaurants.
Fire-service equipment, themed décor and references to firefighters created an atmosphere connected to the founders’ professional backgrounds.
His artistic interests were well suited to this responsibility.
He cared about how restaurants looked and how the brand’s history was represented.
His family later remembered him as the company’s unofficial archivist.
He collected and preserved materials associated with Firehouse Subs and showed a strong interest in its development.
The attention he devoted to presentation helped establish a recognizable identity as the company expanded.
For customers, the restaurants became associated not simply with sandwiches but with a story rooted in firefighting.
Firehouse Subs Sold for $1 Billion in 2021
A major milestone came in November 2021 when Restaurant Brands International announced an agreement to acquire Firehouse Subs.
The transaction was valued at approximately $1 billion.
Restaurant Brands International also operates major fast-food brands including Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes.
The acquisition marked the culmination of nearly three decades of expansion.
By the time of the sale, Firehouse Subs had established itself as a significant participant in the American restaurant industry.
For Chris and Robin, the transaction represented the growth of an idea developed by two former firefighters into a large franchise business.
The deal also attracted attention because of the brothers’ unusual career backgrounds.
Their story demonstrated how experience outside the traditional restaurant industry could inspire a successful business concept.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
One of Chris Sorensen’s most important achievements was helping establish the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in 2005.
The nonprofit organization was created to support firefighters, emergency medical workers, law enforcement agencies and other public safety organizations.
Its work includes funding equipment and resources that help first responders protect their communities.
Sorensen’s family described the foundation as his most meaningful public and professional accomplishment.
According to his official obituary, the foundation had awarded more than $118 million in grants to approximately 7,700 departments across the United States and Canada.
These figures demonstrate the scope of the charitable work associated with the restaurant brand.
For Chris, the foundation represented an opportunity to continue supporting the profession that had played such an important role in his life.
His restaurant success became a way to provide practical assistance to emergency responders.
A Lifelong Commitment to First Responders
Sorensen’s commitment to public safety began long before he became an entrepreneur.
He had spent years responding to emergencies and working alongside firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
Those experiences gave him an understanding of the challenges faced by first responders.
When Firehouse Subs became successful, he helped connect the business’s growth to meaningful community support.
The foundation’s grants have assisted public safety organizations in obtaining lifesaving equipment and other resources.
This connection between commercial success and charitable impact became a central feature of the Firehouse Subs story.
Rather than treating firefighting merely as a marketing theme, Chris and Robin supported organizations performing the work that had inspired their business.
That commitment remains an important part of Chris’s legacy.
Chris Sorensen’s Wife, Kirsten Sorensen
Chris Sorensen is survived by his wife, Kirsten “Puschel” Sorensen.
The family’s obituary describes Kirsten as his loving wife and best friend of 43 years.
She supported him through the challenges and achievements of their life together.
Their longstanding relationship was central to Chris’s personal life.
Although his professional achievements attracted public recognition, he consistently valued the companionship and support of his family.
The obituary emphasizes Kirsten’s strength and the important role she played throughout their years together.
Her presence beside Chris during his final chapter formed part of the family’s remembrance.
Chris Sorensen’s Children and Grandchildren
Chris and Kirsten’s family includes three children: Eric Sorensen, Steffi Sorensen and Brittany Cooney.
Steffi became known for her achievements in basketball and her work as an ESPN sports commentator.
Brittany and her husband, Mike Cooney, are associated with the Northeast Florida restaurants Ember & Iron and Gemma Fish + Oyster.
Chris’s son, Eric, was also highlighted in the family’s obituary as a source of inspiration.
The family additionally identified six grandchildren: Grady, Kaius, Phiona, Maximus, Roman and Gemma.
At the time of Chris’s death, two more grandchildren were expected.
His family remembered him as someone whose greatest pride came from the people closest to him.
Although he helped create a business recognized across North America, his role as a husband, father and grandfather remained his most important personal identity.
The Sorensen Family’s Firefighting Tradition
Firefighting was deeply rooted in the Sorensen family.
Chris’s father, Robert, devoted decades to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
Chris and his brother Robin also pursued careers connected to the fire service before establishing Firehouse Subs.
The family’s history created a direct connection between the profession and the restaurant chain.
It also influenced the brothers’ charitable priorities.
Their approach to business reflected the camaraderie, teamwork and sense of responsibility associated with their previous work.
When they founded Firehouse Subs, they were not simply adopting a firefighter theme for commercial purposes.
They were drawing on experiences that had shaped their lives and relationships.
That family background remained central to the company’s identity.
His Interests in History, Art and Science
Away from business and firefighting, Chris Sorensen had a wide range of intellectual and creative interests.
His obituary describes him as an enthusiastic student of history and science.
He was particularly interested in archaeology, paleontology and the space program.
He also collected historical artifacts and works of art.
These interests reflected a curiosity that extended beyond his professional responsibilities.
He enjoyed classic movies and could remember lines from many films.
His family also recalled his dry sense of humor, which had developed during his years working in the fire service.
Those qualities helped make him memorable to colleagues, friends and relatives.
His life was shaped by creativity and curiosity as much as by entrepreneurship.
Tributes to Chris Sorensen
News of Chris Sorensen’s death prompted remembrances from the Jacksonville community and people connected to Firehouse Subs.
Local television outlets highlighted his history as a firefighter and the remarkable success of the restaurant business he established with Robin.
Reports also emphasized his philanthropic work and the respect he earned among people who knew him.
His death represented a loss for several communities: the fire service, the restaurant industry, charitable organizations and his extended family.
Those different connections illustrate the breadth of his influence.
For restaurant employees and franchise operators, he was one of the founders of a major national brand.
For emergency responders, he helped create a charitable organization supporting their work.
For his family, he was a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Chris Sorensen Funeral and Celebration of Life
A Celebration of Life for Chris Randall Sorensen is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026.
The service will begin at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Eleven22, located at 2101 Longleaf Pine Parkway in St. Johns, Florida.
A reception for family and friends will follow at Marywood Retreat & Conference Center, 235 Marywood Drive, St. Johns, Florida.
These arrangements were announced through the official Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home obituary.
Those planning to attend should consult the funeral home’s notice for any updates.
The event will provide an opportunity for friends, relatives and members of the community to honor Chris’s life and contributions.
Where Can Memorial Donations Be Made?
Instead of sending flowers, the Sorensen family has requested memorial contributions to organizations connected to Chris’s life and values.
The two designated beneficiaries are the Eric Sorensen Motor Speech Program at Brooks Rehabilitation and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
The first supports a program associated with his son’s name.
The second continues the charitable work Chris helped establish for first responders and public safety organizations.
People wishing to contribute should use the organizations’ official donation channels or the links provided in the funeral home’s announcement.
These memorial choices reflect the family’s desire to connect Chris’s remembrance to causes with lasting significance.
Chris Sorensen’s Lasting Legacy
Chris Randall Sorensen died on October 11, 2026, five days before his 66th birthday.
His journey from Jacksonville musician and firefighter to nationally successful entrepreneur was extraordinary.
Alongside his brother Robin, he founded Firehouse Subs in 1994 and helped expand it into a restaurant chain with more than 1,200 locations.
He contributed significantly to the brand’s creative identity and helped establish a charitable foundation that has provided more than $118 million in grants to public safety organizations.
Yet his family’s obituary emphasizes that his greatest source of happiness remained the people he loved.
His wife Kirsten, their children and grandchildren formed the center of his personal world.
Chris’s legacy continues through the company he helped build, the first responders supported by its foundation and the family relationships that meant so much to him.
He will be remembered as a creative entrepreneur, dedicated former firefighter, accomplished musician, generous philanthropist and devoted family man.
Editorial Disclaimer
This obituary is based primarily on the official Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home announcement and corroborating reports published by News4JAX and Action News Jax in October 2026. Chris Randall Sorensen’s birth date, death date, age, family relationships, career history, charitable contributions and memorial arrangements are documented. His obituary identifies him as a cancer survivor but does not disclose a precise medical cause of death. No unsupported cause of death or private medical circumstances have been presented as fact.