AARP Florida Volunteers, Staff Mourn the Passing of Former Florida State Volunteer President Doug Heinlen

Feb. 10, 2016
For immediate release

Contact: Dave Bruns, 850.228.2759

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson issued the following statement on the death Wednesday morning of Doug Heinlen of Sarasota, former volunteer state president of AARP Florida:

“Volunteers and staff of AARP across Florida today mourn the loss of Doug H, a volunteer leader who exemplified the mission of AARP:  to improve the lives of all as they grow older.  Doug had battled pancreatic cancer for four and a half years.”

“Doug and I came in to AARP at about the same time - he was one of my first volunteer recruits, and we worked together as he rose from an advocate, to a coordinator, to a member of the executive council, to state president.  I saw him grow throughout his volunteer service.  He came to AARP without a professional background in aging policy, yet he developed a deep and broad knowledge of the issues that affect older Floridians. I remember a Congressional staffer being shocked to learn he was a volunteer and not paid staff, so thorough was his devotion to the work and so deep was his knowledge of the issues important to older Floridians.”

“He saw his role as being the voice of the AARP member.  He was consistent in voicing the concerns he saw among older people in Sarasota and around the state.  He fully embraced issues both within AARP and externally that might not have affected him directly, but that he knew were critically important to other older people.”

“Doug used the knowledge and connections he gained through AARP to help his community, Sarasota, become a better place.  Through his innovative Coffee & Information events, which he conceived of and led, he equipped local residents with information that made a positive difference in their lives.  Through his service on boards and in leadership roles, he brought his passion and intelligence to bear on key issues affecting people 50+, not only in Sarasota but across Florida and nationwide.”

“Doug kept us true to our mission and our founder.  As state president, he began every meeting of volunteers and staff by reiterating the story of our founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus and her (and our) commitment to supporting aging with independence, dignity and purpose.”

“People who live with cancer often must summon remarkable courage, and Doug certainly did -- I know of very few people to survive pancreatic cancer as long as he did. But he showed us all how to be courageous in the way he spoke truth to power.  Whether he was talking to a member of Congress, a community leader or the CEO of AARP, Doug spoke his mind in a way that could be effective without being confrontational. He fully embraced AARP's non-partisan approach to advocacy in his role and that was a key to his success.”

“You realize in times like this that AARP is a big family. Not only are staff and volunteers throughout Florida mourning his loss, but his former colleagues across the country - fellow state presidents, staff in the national office and across the states, volunteers with whom he served on task forces and workgroups - all join in sending love and support to his wife Mary and daughter Emma.”

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