Beloved children's advocate Linda Merrell dies

DAYTONA BEACH — In 1997, Linda Merrell helped create a program for Florida children that continues to provide health insurance to millions of low-income kids across the state.

In 2014, Merrell got involved when abused children and victims of sexual assault in Volusia and Flagler counties were at risk of losing counseling services. Over the years she helped children's hospitals and an organization that works with people who have developmental disabilities.

For 50 years, the Ormond Beach woman logged hundreds of miles walking the halls of government buildings in Volusia County, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to help Florida's most vulnerable residents.

At the end of last week, the state lost that warrior for the young, elderly, disabled and abused when Merrell's life ended at the age of 83.

Rob Merrell, the oldest of her five children and a well-known Daytona Beach attorney, said his mother was a tireless advocate for struggling children who earned the support of leaders at the local, state and federal levels.

"She knew state senators and congressmen, governors and even presidents," he said. "They loved her because her message was sincere and selfless, and only intended to serve the children in the world who needed help and protection."

He said his mother was "a local legend among her peers." She stood at just 4 feet 11 inches tall, and she had a fierceness wrapped in a gentle approach that won the respect of many people, he said.

Former County Councilwoman Pat Northey first met Merrell decades ago when they both got involved in a county PTA organization.

"I was a young thing just getting started in PTA, and Linda was like the icon," said Northey, who served on the County Council from 1993-2004 and again from 2007-2014. "We wanted to be Linda Merrell when we grew up. She was very caring and very loving, never threatening. But she also knew her way around Tallahassee. She knew everybody and she knew how to get it done."

A regular in Tallahassee

and Washington, D.C.

Rosalind "Linda" Ferrucci Merrell was born in New Haven, Conn. She met her husband, Bob Merrell, at Yale New Haven Hospital while she was working as a nurse and he was doing his medical residency in otolaryngology, a medical specialty focused on the ears, nose and throat.

They married and had three children while they were living in New Haven. Around 1965, the family moved to Daytona Beach Shores, located just south of Bob Merrell's hometown of Daytona Beach. They had two more children, moved to Daytona Beach, and eventually moved again to Ormond Beach.

As her five children started getting older, Linda Merrell began getting involved in children's issues.

Beginning in the 1970s, she became a paid and unpaid lobbyist in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., where she met and worked with many legislators, governors and even presidents.

As a health and human services advocate, she was integrally involved in many important social service initiatives, including working as the coordinator of the Florida Governor's Constituency for Children. She also helped create the Florida Children's Health Insurance Program, later known as Florida KidCare, a program that now provides subsidized health insurance to more than 2.6 million low-income children across Florida.

She was a co-founder of Florida CHAIN and the Florida Child Health Coalition, which subsequently became a bedrock of support for the Children's Movement of Florida and the Florida KidsWell project.

Merrell worked with the Developmental Disabilities Council, community-based care organizations, Healthy Start Coalitions, children's hospitals and child advocates across the state on myriad programs such as Early Steps and Healthy Start. A member of the Florida Medical Association Alliance, she served as county president when the organization was known as the Women's Medical Alliance.

"She never, ever thought about herself. She was always trying to help others," Rob Merrell said.

"I have known and worked with Linda Merrell for more than 40 years and have witnessed her advocacy for children, children's health, the elderly and the disabled," Samuel P. Bell, III, a former Florida state representative and University of South Florida College of Public Health founder, said several years ago. "Her effective and heartfelt fight has made a difference. On behalf of all the thousands Linda has helped over the years, we thank her sincerely."

'Linda showed us the way'

She was recognized for her many accomplishments and received numerous awards, including the 2017 Outstanding Woman in Public Health from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. The college presents the award each year to a woman whose career accomplishments and leadership contribute significantly to the field of public health in Florida.

Linda Merrell crossed paths with many local residents in her decades of living in coastal Volusia County, and since she died Sept. 9 they've been expressing a mix of sadness, gratitude and admiration.

More than 250 people liked or commented on Rob Merrell's Facebook post about his mother's passing. One man wrote that she "was a beautiful person in every sense of the word." Another man who lived next door to the Merrells as a child said she was like a second mother to him, making him peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and taking him to the beach.

"She knew a lot of people. We've been here forever," Rob Merrell said.

Through her lobbying she got to know people "from one side of the political spectrum to the other," he said.

"My dad was a staunch Republican, and mom was just the opposite, so it was interesting at the dinner table," he said.

J. Hyatt Brown, chairman of Daytona Beach-based Brown & Brown insurance company, and his wife, Cici, have known different generations of the Merrell family back to the 1950s. Brown got to know Linda Merrell better around the time he was Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 1978–1980.

"She was always involved in good things in the community," he said. "She would come to Tallahassee on her child and medical issues, and she was very persistent."

Brown said he remembers her as "a wonderful person" who was always smiling and upbeat.

Through her work she got to know many state legislators and five governors including Chiles, who was a U.S. senator from Florida from 1971–1989 and Florida's governor from 1991 until his death in 1998. She even met former President Bill Clinton.

Former Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno said he learned a lot from Linda Merrell. So did his wife, Mary, who's the chairperson of the Volusia County Children and Families Advisory Board that distributes about $1.3 million each year to organizations that help kids.

"She was a real mentor to me," said Mary Bruno, who for many years was the Volusia County school district's director of career, technical, community and vocational programs. "I worked for the school district for 38 years, and she inspired me to work with teen parents. She was always looking for 'what's the next thing I have to do for children of Florida."

Northey said Linda Merrell left a legacy for children's services that is unmatched.

"She was a mighty person," Northey said. "You had a lot of respect for her, and you didn't cross her. You also didn't want to disappoint her because she cared so deeply for children."

Northey said Merrell was a pioneer for women.

"It was that era when women were just coming of age, and Linda showed us the way," Northey said.

While most people knew Merrell as a heroine for children's services, her own children cherished her most for her role as their mother who had boundless love for them.

"As a mom, she was the most incredible teacher, healer, mentor and an inspiration," Rob Merrell said. "If you knew Linda, you know God just gained a special new angel who will be watching over all of us. We should all be comforted by that."

A service for Linda Merrell will be held at 1 p.m. on Oct. 8 at St. James Episcopal Church, located at 44 S. Halifax Drive in Ormond Beach. A reception will follow at the church. The public is invited to attend the service and reception.

You can reach Eileen at [email protected]