It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our dear friend, Flo Innes, who passed away on January 15, 2024. Flo was hospitalized on Saturday after a fainting episode and passed away on Monday as the hospital was in the process of identifying the cause.
Born with profound hearing loss, there was no advocacy or support when Flo was growing up. This led her to become a fierce advocate for children and adults who experience hearing loss or deafness.
In its early years, Flo was a member of SHHH (now known as HLAA) and a friend of its founder, Rocky Stone.
In 2011, Flo started Advocates for Better Hearing, an assistive listening device resource center, to help people in the Sarasota area. Her advocacy for hearing loss never wavered. She was very active in Sertoma, was the treasurer of the HLAA Florida State Association, and she was one of the first to assemble a hospital kit for those with hearing loss. Flo was a charter member of the Sarasota Chapter, where she served as president for seven years, working diligently, often alone, to ensure the chapter was successful.