Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
Photos for Headline Surfer / Eddie Colosimo is shown in pics above and below.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
HOLLY HILL, Fla. -- The occasional local political candidate known as “Crazy” Eddie Colosimo, whose ultimate claim to fame was founding the veterans support organization Bikers For First Amendment Rights, lost a three-week battle with COVID-19 back in August at the age of 79.
Colosimo's death following three weeks in the intensive care unit at Halifax Health Hospital in Daytona Beach was announced in a post the following day on his Facebook page by his daughter, Kim Colosimo.
"This is Kim, Crazy Eddie's daughter, after a three-week battle with Covid, Eddie J. Colosimo Jr. passed last night at approx 10:30 pm," she wrote on Aug. 24, adding, "He will be greatly missed by those who have come to know him over the years. My dad loved animals and was passionate about helping Vets in need, instead of flowers I know he would love to see you donate to your local animal shelter or veterans assistance group."
Colosimo's death following three weeks in the intensive care unit at Halifax Health Hospital in Daytona Beach was announced in a post the following day on his Facebook page by his daughter, Kim Colosimo.
"This is Kim, Crazy Eddie's daughter, after a three-week battle with Covid, Eddie J. Colosimo Jr. passed last night at approx 10:30 pm," she wrote on Aug. 24, adding, "He will be greatly missed by those who have come to know him over the years. My dad loved animals and was passionate about helping Vets in need, instead of flowers I know he would love to see you donate to your local animal shelter or veterans assistance group."
Friends were reeling from news of Colosimo's death.
“It’s kind of raw with me,” said Tammy Cummings, who worked with Colosimo for 12 years running the Bikers For First Amendment Rights organization, a private club off Ridgewood Avenue in Holly Hill. “I managed the bar and restaurant and Eddie was the head of the organization. We worked together from 2005 to 2017.”
The bar was easy to spot along Ridgewood Avenue with its array of American and military flags displayed out.
Colosimo, a Vietnam War combat veteran, and US Marine was a tireless advocate for war vets, who organized annual biker runs to support Toys For Tots, the children’s charity organization affiliated with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
His mercurial persona with municipal government at Holly Hill City Hall was well chronicled.
Perhaps nobody was happier with the news that City Manager McCroskey was quitting his municipal post in April 2014 than citizen watchdog-turned mayoral candidate "Crazy" Eddie Colosimo.
"McCroskey is nothing more than an overpaid crook," Colosimo told Headline Surfer the day after McCroskey announced he was resigning the following month to pursue other opportunities.
Colosimo's dispute centered around the fact that eight patriotic flags were displayed in front of his bar, one more than the maximum number he could legally display, according to a city ordinance. Colosimo was incensed with what he saw as unpatriotic and a clear-cut violation of his First Amendment free speech rights.
City Hall was flooded with letters supporting Colosimo and Holly Hill leaders backed down.
The antagonism led to Colosimo's unsuccessful run for mayor of Holly Hill in 2014. It was his second try at public office. He ran for a seat on the Volusia County Council in 2010 but didn't make it past the primary.
Funeral services were private per Colosimo's wishes so a farewell celebration was organized by Cummings on Sept. 19 at the American Legion Post 120 in Holly Hill. She followed up with a Facebook post expressing appreciation to the countless friends and politicians who attended.
"Thank you to everyone that came to the Legion today for Eddie’s gathering of friends," Cummings posted in part. "Thank you Mayor Chris Via for your kind words and the ongoing plans the city has to show respect for our Military, I know Eddie is smiling down from Heaven🇺🇸RIP my friend Eddie Colosimo."
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.