Photos for Headline Surfer® / NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Sandy Winkler, the longtime executive secretary in the city's manager office, has a comforting expression on her Facebook page that reads: "When God closes one door, he opens another."
Winkler has been a loyal and dedicated municipal employee since 1978. She's gone about her job and stayed clear of the small-town politics over the years. Winkler a private, but friendly person has other expressions, too like "Focus on the Good" and "I am thankful -- for my blessings are too many to count."
Such expressions are clearly Winkler's way of letting others know in a reassuring way that she has learned to cope and move forward, considering last year, life threw her the ultimate curve: Her husband, Paul, a master carpenter and member of Servants’ Quarters Fellowship of Edgewater/New Smyrna Beach, was diagnosed with brain cancer on Feb. 13.
Paul Winkler, the consummate outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting, and was a member of the National Rifle Association and Samsula Hunt Club, died on Dec. 12. He was just 54 years old.
But during that precious time with her husband and their grown daughter, Brandy Nicole; Sandy Winkler, the matriarch, was the glue in the trio fighting the disease together.
During that time and since her husband's passing, Sandy Winkler has been an inspiration to her co-workers at City Hall and people in Southeast Volusia who have known the Winklers over the years with her city employment dating back to 1978.
The Winklers together in March 2013, one month into his battle with cancer that would ultimately take him from his wide, Sandy, and daughter, Brandy.Nancy Hagood, wife of former New Smyrna Beach City Manager John Hagood, who has known Winkler for nearly 30 years, said she is constantly amazed at her unbelievable strength, which she harnesses from her Christian faith.
"She is a very very strong woman," Hagood said. "I wish I had her strength and stamina. She has a good head on her shoulders and is a real person."
Nancy Hagood, wife of former New Smyrna Beach City Manager John Hagood, who has known Sandy Winkler for nearly 30 years, said she is constantly amazed at her unbelievable strength, which she harnesses from her Christian faith.
"She is a very very strong woman," Hagood said. "I wish I had her strength and stamina. She has a good head on her shoulders and is a real person."
The city's fire department paid homage to Sandy Winkler and her daughter for their brave fight side by side with the loving husband and father during those 10 precious months, by having a fire truck re-painted in pink with Paul Winkler's name affixed to it. Mother and daughter were invited to a dedication shortly after Paul Winker's passing, at Fire Station 51 on Williams Road.
Sandy Winkler was proud of what the fire department had done in her husband's honor, telling the firefighters, "Paul would be proud to have his name on the truck. He would be very happy."
The purpose of the pink truck is to build cancer awareness among the community as crews respond to calls," New Smyrna Beach Fire Chief David McCallister said.
"By dedicating it to Paul, we not only are remembering him, but we're also continuing to build that awareness while thanking him for his inspiration," McAllister said.
The pink fire engine program was spearheaded two years ago by firefighter Tom Bull, a driver/engineer. Originally intended to raise breast cancer awareness, the program has evolved into total cancer awareness.
Citizens may sign the vehicle to honor anyone who has been impacted by the disease. Over the past two years, the city has partnered with the New Smyrna Beach Professional Firefighters Local 2271 to transform this truck into a rolling monument. Thousands of names of survivors and lost loved ones cover the truck.
Sandy Winkler, who lives in Edgewater, is recognized by Headline Surfer as No. 498 in the internet newspaper's ranking of the Top 500 Newsmakers of Central Florida; for the courage and inspiration she showed during such a difficult transition in her life, and the example she set for her daughter and countless others.
The Recap:
498. NSB executive secretary Sandy Winkler community inspiration in support of late husband's cancer battle
499. Palatka City Commissioner Allegra Kitchens demonstrated she can 'stand the heat'
500. Lauren Rowe leaves WKMG Local 6 News after decade-plus run