Former Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala died on April 23 at the age of 88.
Fiala was first elected as a county commissioner for District 1 in 2000 and served five terms before her retirement in 2020. Her 20 years of service made her the longest-serving commissioner in the county's modern history, as well as the longest-serving female county commissioner in the state of Florida.
Fiala affectionately earned the nickname "The People's Commissioner" due to her commitment and accessibility to the citizens of Collier County.
Fiala played a vital role in the development of East Naples. Her impact was recognized as Collier County officials renamed an East Naples park the Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park.
Fiala was heavily involved in numerous civic and nonprofit organizations and was an advocate for children, seniors and healthcare accessibility.
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
Fiala was a loving mother to her five children. She had eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Representative Byron Donalds commented on Fiala's passing, saying that he "never met a leader who truly had their finger on the pulse of their constituency quite like she did."
"There will never be another like her," Donalds said. "The county, her constituents and our family mourn the loss of a legacy leader who gave it all."
Fiala's family said they are deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support they have received since her passing.
The family requests that in-person attendance of Fiala's services on Tuesday be limited to family and close friends. A live stream of the services will be available.
Collier County is planning a community-wide celebration of life for Fiala, to be held at a later date.
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