Photos for Headline Surfer / Above, pics of Ed Northey and a shelter dog named Lily who helped him emotionally and physically over the past year. Former County Councilwoman Pat Northey's husband died on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. They were married for 52 years.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DELTONA, Fla. -- Pat Northey has never been one afraid to meet challenges head-on regardless of the obstacle.
But getting through the day Tuesday with her husband Ed's passing that morning, no doubt, had to be the most difficult.
And yet she got through it.
Perhaps that tenacity under the most trying of circumstances in coming to grips with the finality of her husband's death -- the proverbial going through the motions in staving off grief.
Northey's coping skills were honed by her 30-plus years wedded to municipal and county politics with her relentless commitment to spearheading Volusia County's network of hiking trails that earned her the moniker of "Trails Queen."
Still, Ed Northey was the love of her life in 52 years of marriage.
Northey persevered, though, even connecting with countless people on Facebook in pursuit of forgoing floral arrangements in favor of something with lasting value: This was her pitch:
"Many of you have asked what can you do to help to recognize the passing of my husband Ed. Meet 'nurse' Lilly." Northey continued: "Lilly was a shelter dog we adopted in 2017. She was intensely bonded to Ed and spent the last year Velcro’d to his side, taking care of him and bringing him much peace and joy in the last year of his life. If you are so inclined and in lieu of flowers, I am asking donations be made to the Southeast Humane Society in his name."
"Many of you have asked what can you do to help to recognize the passing of my husband Ed. Meet 'nurse' Lilly." Northey continued: "Lilly was a shelter dog we adopted in 2017.
She was intensely bonded to Ed and spent the last year Velcro’d to his side, taking care of him and bringing him much peace and joy in the last year of his life. If you are so inclined and in lieu of flowers, I am asking donations be made to the Southeast Humane Society in his name."
Northey finished her appeal with "Thank you to everyone who has posted, commented, called, or texted. It has helped to brighten an otherwise dismal day to know Ed was so loved."
Northey's heartfelt pitch was embraced by countless people from all walks of life. Here are some examples with name hyperlinks to see connections:
Deltona City Commissioner Nancy Schleicher: donation done.
Former County Judge Mary Jane Nettles: DONE!!
Vicki Ehmen: I see Lilly is grieving too.
Dolores Guzman: Flowers to you and donation are on the way. We love you all.
Karen Jans: Done.
Chris Quarles: Dogs are the best!!
Michele Mcfall-Conte: Done. From Nick, Michele, Ainsley, and Bobby.
Circuit Judge Kathleen McNeilly: "I’m am so sorry for your loss during this incredibly difficult time My deepest condolences."
Here is a link to Southeast Volusia Humane Society's portal for donations: https://sevhumanesociety.org/.
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 along the I-4 tourism corridor in greater Daytona Beach to Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed 115 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 such as the George Zimmerman murder trial, Frederick has appeared on national crime shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. AWJ: