PINELLAS COUNTY – When Ann Dingman’s husband, John, suffered a massive stroke in 2004 at the age of 54, their lives were overturned. His job as an HVAC technician and part-time snow plow operator, as well as hers delivering newspapers were over. At the time their son was 10 years old and their daughter was 20. Their journey of recovery, volunteerism and love led to the day when Dingman was presented with the Tampa Bay 2025 Golden Heart Award on Aug. 19 by SAGES Theatre artistic and executive director Christine Hamacher.
Much has happened in the 21 years since Dingman’s husband suffered that stroke. Before the stroke, he was healthy and active, enjoying hunting and fishing in his free time. After the stroke, he went through surgery to clean out his carotids, had seizures until his meds were regulated, his right hand didn’t work, had difficulties with his right leg dragging, and went through all the speech, occupational and physical therapy his insurance would allow.
In 2008 the couple moved their family from New Jersey to Florida. As caregiver for her husband, Dingman dedicated herself to securing the best available care, therapies and services for him.
Then, in 2011 the Dingmans met Kathy and Mike Caputo, another couple from New Jersey living in Florida also experiencing recuperation from the husband’s stroke and subsequent aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder in post-stroke patients that makes communication difficult but does not impact their intelligence.
“(At that time) there was nothing (in the way of support) for people with aphasia,” said Dingman. The Dingmans and Caputos were among the founding members of Voices of Hope for Aphasia based in St. Petersburg, a non-profit organization that helps people with aphasia and their families.
Debbie Yones, executive director of Voices of Hope for Aphasia, nominated Dingman for the 2025 Tampa Bay Golden Heart Award in the Family Care category. In addition to the family care category, there are six other categories for which individuals age 50+ may be recognized, including advocacy, community connection, direct care, leadership, spirit, and volunteerism. The family care award is “for the family caregiver who goes out of their way to ensure their loved one lives a life filled with love, purpose, and connectivity.”
Dingman began volunteering from the get-go. In Yones’ nomination of Dingman, she said, “(Dingman) volunteers countless hours supporting the members of Voices of Hope for Aphasia, organizing (First Friday) monthly lunches, staffing booths at health fairs, participating in lectures to students, raising awareness of aphasia at formal and informal functions, participating in and donating items for fundraisers, ensuring those without modes of transportation can participate, often driving out of her way to pick them up herself, and coordinating activities for an annual cruise hosted by the founders of Voices of Hope for Aphasia.”
Additionally, Dingman has organized a Caregivers Support Group on Zoom. If someone needs help, she jumps right in. “If (Dingman) encounters someone with aphasia in-person or online, she, without hesitation, extends an offer of help, advice, emotional support, and recommendations for the best services for those with aphasia and the families dealing with the emotional and financial impacts of the stroke,” said Yones.
After the first year of her husband’s recuperative care, he became bored. One of his speech therapists suggested he try sketching. This was not an easy hobby to pursue since John was right-handed and after the stroke his right hand was no longer functioning. Dingman began searching to locate different affordable art classes for him, and took him to them. The classes paid off, and today he creates art work with his left hand that people want to own.
Dingman participates in the care of four generations of her family. In addition to caring for her husband, she participates in the care of her 90-year-old mother, and her daughter and 11-year-old grandson live with her in Palm Harbor.
The Dingmans are members of both the Dunedin American Legion Post 275 and the Dunedin VFW Post 2550. Due to John’s four-year stint in the navy in Vietnam, starting in 1969 when he graduated high school, the Dingmans have availed themselves of services from the V.A. since his stroke.
Every year SAGES Theatre honors seniors who make a difference with the Golden Heart Awards. SAGES was co-founded by Hamacher and Linda Goldman, a playwright in her seventies. The purpose of SAGES is to present Goldman’s plays to a target senior audience with messages on topics such as avoiding scams. This year there were 53 worthy nominees in seven categories for the Golden Heart Awards, including Dingman.
As if on cue, at the conclusion of Dingman’s interview, a neighbor came knocking at the door, asking for a donation of one of John’s paintings for a YMCA fundraiser. Dingman, of course, obliged.
When asked why she is so willing to help others, she explained that she was the eldest of five daughters in an ethnic Italian home, so she was used to caring for everyone. “The way I was raised – I have to help.”