Walk, ride a car or golf cart through Herons Glen and you will find more than beautifully landscaped yards, manicured golf course greens and familiar gathering places. If you look a little closer, you will also find something deeply personal woven into the fabric of this community, memorials honoring loved ones who are no longer with us, yet never truly gone.
Why do we create memorials? For many, it is about closure. For others, it is a way to hold onto fond memories and express pride in a life well lived. These markers become places to pause, to reflect, to speak quietly to someone missed, or to shed a tear. They are, in essence, small but powerful connections between past and present.
Over the years, Herons Glen has embraced many meaningful ways to honor and remember loved ones. Some of the earliest memorials took the form of tree plaques, with residents donating trees in honor of loved ones. While these living memorials are beautiful, they can be vulnerable to Florida’s seasonal storms, hurricanes, and occasional golf course renovations. Benches placed along the golf course, near the bocce courts, and beside our community roads offer another lasting form of remembrance, providing not only a tribute, but a place for others to rest and reflect. More recently, a Memorial Garden featuring engraved pavers bearing the names of loved ones was established near the front entrance of the Glen, creating a shared space where memories are preserved and honored by all who pass through. Inside the community clubhouse, the large Tree of Life plaques, located in the hallway between the HGRD and HOA, stand as a collective tribute. Elsewhere, smaller signs, painted stones, and personalized markers quietly tell stories of love, loss, and legacy.
Each memorial carries a story.
On Hole #3, Pam Bedore placed a stone in memory of her father, Pat Horwood, marking his favorite hole where he once became club champion in 1994. Nearby, stories of friendship and camaraderie live on through the memories of residents like Tony Brown, whose yard once displayed plaques honoring his golf companions and beloved partner Linda Lou Meyers. Tony purposely planted a double palm tree in his yard to hold both his and Linda’s marker. Though those plaques have since been removed as he prepares to leave, the stories remain.
On Hole #6, a cluster of trees tells the story of the Brosnan family. Audrey and John Brosnan moved to Herons Glen in 1991, fulfilling their retirement dream and spending over 30 cherished years here. After the loss of their son John “Chip” in 2008, they planted a palm tree in his memory, one they could see from their lanai. Over time, additional trees were planted to honor Audrey, their son Timothy, and eventually John himself. Even after Hurricane Ian took one of the trees, it was replaced. Today, the family of trees stand together, representing not only loss, but a family’s enduring love and deep roots in the community.
On Hole #7, a sign honors Joe “The Barber” Reda, placed in 2016 by the Member Guest Committee. Joe sponsored the hole during the annual tournament, awarding golfers closest to the pin, but his generosity extended far beyond the course. Through his barbering and annual car show, he supported scholarships for the North Fort Myers school district. Known for his warm spirit, Joe often told those he met, “Thanks for being my friend.” His memory continues to echo those words.
Throughout Herons Glen, there are countless other tributes:
•A bench honoring Dorothy Klewicki for her dedication to volunteerism.
•A large sign recognizing Cindy Farley for setting the standard of service near the Memorial Garden.
•A stone placed by the Veterans of the Glen reminding us never to forget September 11, 2001.
•A hand-painted stone in the Butterfly Garden honoring Beth Burnett, whose vision helped create that peaceful space.
•A bench along Herons Glen Boulevard for Bob Colletti, thoughtfully placed where walkers can pause, rest, and reflect.
Some memorials, like those for close friends Bill Petrillo and Ed Meehan, once placed near a pond, or the barstool plaques resident Terry Boots provided in the Nest, have been lost to renovation. Others, like Gene Noll’s tribute to his wife Janice outside his lanai on Hole #1, continue to be seen daily by neighbors and golfers alike.
These markers remind us not only of those we’ve lost, but of the lives they lived and the lasting impact they had on others. I remember playing in a golf tournament when my partner, Ray Davis, paused to touch a magnolia tree once home to Dick Clopton’s memorial marker before a course renovation, an unspoken moment that said so much about friendship, memory, and the bonds that endure.
During this journey of discovering memorials throughout the Glen, many residents shared a common sentiment: a hesitation about being remembered in this way. Some said, “No one would remember me.” And yet, in conversation after conversation, stories poured out stories filled with laughter, friendship, kindness, and love. These memorials spark those memories. They keep conversations alive.
For those considering a memorial, there is also a practical side. Florida’s weather and ongoing renovations can affect longevity, so thoughtful placement matters. Options such as memorial pavers or the Tree of Life may provide more permanence. Residents interested in these opportunities are encouraged to contact the HOA for more information.
In the end, memorials are more than plaques, pavers, stones, signs or markers. They are quiet voices, enduring reminders that every life leaves a story worth telling. Here in Herons Glen, those stories continue to live all around us. While some memorials have been lost over the years, their meaning has not. If you know of a memorial that is no longer here and the name has not been mentioned, please contact the Herons Glen Magazine at [email protected]. And if you have a story to share about someone we have lost, we encourage and invite you to share it, we would love to hear from you.
