The husband of the president of the Florida Senate died on Wednesday after falling in Bryce Canyon National Park, in Utah.
Kathleen Passidomo, 70, and her husband, John Passidomo, 72, were walking Monday when he fell and suffered “massive head trauma, among other very serious injuries,” according to a statement from the state Senate.
“Hiking buddies on the trail” were the first to reach the couple before an ambulance arrived to take them to the hospital.
He was then flown to a regional trauma center in St. George, Utah, where he was evaluated by “the best medical teams.”
After a 24-hour examination, doctors informed Passidomo that her husband would not survive.
Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (left), 70, and her husband, John Passidomo (right), 72, were out for a hike Monday when she suffered “massive head trauma.”
The accident occurred in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah (pictured)
On Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by his wife and three daughters, Passidomo passed away at 3:21 pm EDT.
The statement said the couple were “law school sweethearts.”
The Passidomos, originally from New Jersey, met at Stetson University School of Law in Gulfport.
The president and first gentleman were “looking forward to celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary in September.”
The Passidomos were in Utah to visit several national parks, and the trip was just one of “many great adventures they shared during their five decades together.”
Passidomo and her husband’s final days together, according to the statement, were marked “by many special moments, beautiful landscapes and wonderful reflections on their life together.”
The couple spoke of their “plans to live out their golden years watching their grandchildren grow up.”
The statement said that “the president has lost the love of her life and is absolutely devastated by this sudden and unexpected accident.”
The sudden passing of John Passidomo caused great grief among elected officials.
In an article on X.com, formerly Twitter, Florida Governor Ron Desantis said John Passidomo “was a good man.”
Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson also took to X.com to express her condolences.
‘The state of Utah offers our deepest condolences to the president. Passidomo, his family and those in the state of Florida who are dealing with the shock of this terrible news.’
Like his wife, John Passidomo entered politics. Passidomo was a councilman and vice mayor of Naples, Florida, from 1990 to 1992.
Passidomo (far left) held elected office for one term. He was a councilman and vice mayor of Naples, Florida, from 1990 to 1992.
The Passidomo were originally from New Jersey. They met in law school and were approaching their 45th wedding anniversary.
Passidomo was originally elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2010, and was later elected to the Senate, becoming its speaker for the 2022-24 term.
In the Florida Senate statement, Passidomo expressed gratitude to the National Park Service, Garfield County first responders and Bryce Canyon National Park staff.
They also thanked their companions on the road, who were the first to reach them and with whose quick action they preserved the life of John Passidomo long enough for him to say goodbye to his relatives.
The heroic efforts of fellow hikers also made organ donation possible.
The statement said Mr Passidomo was “very fit and active, in overall excellent health at 72 years of age”.
He continues: “I was listed as an organ donor and the president wanted to honor those wishes.”
There were matches for “several organs of the First Gentleman.”
President Kathleen Passidomo and her family “are comforted by the fact that their great loss has become a life-saving gift to other families.”