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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Villages 101: Who was Don Hahnfeldt?

Don Hahnfeldt

Villagers were largely in shock in December 2017 when they learned that 73-year-old State Rep. Don Hahnfeldt had lost his battle with cancer on Christmas Eve.

The highly popular and extremely active Villager and decorated Navy veteran had been elected to the Florida House in 2016 to succeed another Villager, Marlene O’Toole, who was term-limited out of office.

News of Hahnfeldt’s death rocked his legislative colleagues, with then-House Speaker Richard Corcoran tweeting: “The entire Florida House mourns the loss of our colleague and friend, Representative Don Hahnfeldt. We honor and remember his service to our Country and our State. Please pray for his family in this difficult time.”

Then-Gov. Rick Scott also offered his condolences.

“My wife Ann and I are saddened by the news of Representative Don Hahnfeldt’s passing,” Scott said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

State Rep. Don Hahnfeldt speaks to his Florida House of Representatives colleagues.

Hahnfeldt, a former Sumter County commissioner who represented District 33 – all of Sumter and portions of Lake and Marion counties – remained active in state government right up until his death. In fact, just 11 days before he died at The Villages Regional Hospital, he spoke to The Villages Homeowner Advocates group and gave a legislative overview. Hahnfeldt spent three years (March 2009-February 2012) as president of the VHA and was welcomed back with open arms.

Those who knew Hahnfeldt, who lived in the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Miona, could well attest to the fact that he had many passions. But without a doubt one of his biggest was healthcare and The Villages Regional Hospital. He served tirelessly on the board of the hospital’s parent company, Central Florida Health (CFH), which also owns Leesburg Regional Medical Center. And he was constantly speaking to local groups about the Villages hospital and its importance to the community.

In one of those talks in August 2014, Hahnfeldt addressed the Sumter County Republican Club and explained the importance of working alongside the Developer-owned Villages Health in the effort to create “America’s Healthiest Hometown,” a term coined by late Developer H. Gary Morse, who was the driving force behind the health care initiative.

Longtime Villager Don Hahnfeldt and his wife, Cheryle, enjoy at afternoon at Lake Sumter Landing.

Hahnfeldt, who served as both CFH vice chairman and chairman, clearly was a major players in The Villages Regional Hospital’s $59-million expansion that was first announced in May 2013. In fact, in November of that year, he was among a select group of dignitaries who took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion.

When the project was officially completed in July 2016, Hahnfeldt was beaming as he talked about the importance of an expanded emergency department, an outpatient surgery center and a new North Tower housing 32 intensive care beds, 34 medical-surgical beds and a 22-bed rehabilitation center.

By then the immediate past chairman of the CFH Board, Hahnfeldt, also a big proponent of motorcycle helmets, labeled the completion of the expansion as critical in providing a broad range of services for area residents. And he pointed out – as he had done many times – that the hospital had the oldest patient base and more Medicare patients than any other facility of its kind, so providing top-notch medical care was a necessity.

Don Hahnfeldt and his wife, Cheryle, after he was inducted as a Pitt Varsity Letterman of Distinction at the Athletic Hall of Fame at the University of Pittsburgh.

Hahnfeldt was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. He spent 32 years in the Navy, where he commanded two nuclear submarines, served as commander of the Pacific Fleet’s Strategic Submarine Squadron and led a group of nuclear experts confronted with the challenge of dealing with radioactive waste disposal from the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in Russia. And he served as a city manager in Central Washington after his Navy days came to an end.

Don Hahnfeldt wears a wig and glasses to mock Hillary Clinton.

Hahnfeldt and his wife, Cheryle, moved to The Villages in 2004. He once brought the house down with an impersonation of Hillary Clinton at a GOP BBQ rally at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center, was honored by the Florida League of Cities at a Lady Lake Commission meeting and was inducted as a Pitt Varsity Letterman of Distinction at the Athletic Hall of Fame at the University of Pittsburgh.

Just one week before his death, Hahnfeldt – a big supporter of President Trump – and Democratic Rep. Lori Berman filed House Bill 1029, which would have raised the legal age for smoking from 18 to 21. In a news release issued with Berman and Senate sponsor David Simmons, Hahnfeldt said raising the legal age would “save a projected early loss of life of 270,000 young lives and $8.6 billion in healthcare costs, as well as $8.3 billion in productivity losses.” In March 2018, the bill was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration.

State Rep. Don Hahnfeldt, center, was honored by the Florida League of Cities. He is flanked by Lady Lake Mayor Jim Richards and Amber Hughes.

In addition to wife Cheryle, Hahnfeldt was survived by his three daughters, Christiana (Paul) Damm, Katherine (Scott) Devitt and Jennifer (David) Humphreys; brothers Edward Hahnfeldt III and Alfred Hahnfeldt; sister Suzan Hahnfeldt; grandchildren, John Damm, Annaliese Damm, Madalyn Devitt, Thomas Devitt, Drew Devitt, Henry Humphreys and E. Cullen Humphreys; sisters-in-laws, Yvonne Cadwallader and Jean (Jan) Kobeski; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Hahnfeldt’s memorial service at the Savannah Center, which looked like a who’s who of The Villages, was well attended. A long line snaked past his wife, daughters and brothers, with well-wishers sharing stories of positive interactions and the many good things he had done for the community.

Don Hahnfeldt, shown campaigning for the state House, was a big supporter of President Trump.

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