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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Oh my, this is shocking news. . My heart goes out to Dan and the family, wishing them peace and comfort during this heart-wrenching time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>What’s so odd is Iwas just talking about Gloria with someone today, wondering what was happening with the Senior Concerns calls. I knew someone was co-chairing that division, but did not hear anything in quite a while. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>She was such a strong lady, never afraid to speak out, always working for the good of all blind and visually impaired people. She served on the FRCB for many years, where I really got to know her well. we usually sat next to each other, and ate lunch and/or dinner together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dan, please know that I am keeping you and the family in my thoughts and prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Many blessings to you all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Pat L <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul Martinez via NFBF-L<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, July 16, 2023 2:19 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbf-l@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Paul Martinez <president@nfbflorida.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-L] Too soon, but in a better place<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt'>Dear Federation Family,<br><br>I regret to share with you that yesterday we lost a dear friend to all of us. Gloria Mils Hicks a strong woman asister, mother, and coach for me many times passed away early Saturday. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Gloria was a long time federationist. She served in many roles in the federation; president of the Tampa Bay Chapter for almost thirty years; Treasurer of the Florida Affiliate for almost ten year; participated in many Washington Seminars; a member of the federation for over forty years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Gloria was truly a federationist and “lived the life she wanted” by building her own business and demonstrating to all of us that no obstacles were big enough to overcome. If you are like me, you are feeling a devastating sense of loss combined with an overwhelming gratitude for what this woman did for the blind of Florida.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>More details about services for this extraordinary individual and information about how we can support her husband Dan Hicks and family will be forthcoming. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Please continue to send your prayers and positive thoughts to the hicks family.<br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Yours truly, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>Paul M. Martinez, President ,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:12.65pt;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal> <br>Paul M. Martinez<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>President, national Federation of the blind Florida<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>813-390-5720<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>With love, hope and determination we transform dreams into reality<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>