Dr. Angelo Agro, who tenaciously overcame a lung disease that eventually was treated with a transplant, and returned to work, died Monday night.

Agro had been at UAB for the past seven weeks, fighting pneumonia, his wife, CJ Agro said.

The Andalusia ear, nose and throat specialist had rapidly progressing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for which he was being treated at UAB, when he was referred to Duke University’s transplant program. He received a lung in the fall 2011.

“It’s a remarkable thing to have someone else’s living tissue functioning inside of you,” Agro told The Star-News that Thanksgiving. “I’m thankful for organ donation system, and that this sort of surgery can be done.”

“It’s a mind boggling experience,” he said. “I feel I have a second chance at life. It’s like I’m starting over, reassessing my priorities, thinking about smelling the flowers and how I want to do things. It’s like going back to square one.”

During his recovery, he passed his sleep medicine boards. He returned to private practice and many of the activities he loved. Friends who expressed condolences to Mrs. Agro yesterday via social media wrote of his courage, his loving heart, and described him as an inspiration.

Agro, who came to Andalusia in 2003, was board certified in

Otolaryngology (ENT). He earned his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Penn., and received his training in otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.

Locally, he served on the ARH Board of Directors, served on the Medical Executive Board and served as ARH Chief of Staff.

A memorial service is set for 1 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 19, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Dr. Agro’s name to the Lung Transplant Foundation.

Information is available at lungtransplantfoundation.org.