Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Open Letter to Mr. Robert Butterworth and the Fla.Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Dear Secretary Robert A Butterworth;
Dept of Children and Families
1317 Winewood Blvd 1 #202
Tallahassee,Florida 32399-0700

Dear Secretary Butterworth;

We read with interest your new policy of openness within the Florida Division of Florida and Families;

As the family of abused elders statewide and singularly Dr. A.J.Fernandez whose death was precipitated on January 9th, two years ago by the by the forced separation from his wife of 58 years.

We believed our parents paid their dues and as their family we believed we are entitled to some closure on this sad,sad chapter of the nightmare of what were to be my parents golden years together traveling and enjoying the culmination of Dr. Fernandez and Clara life and dedication to public service together, in travel and in leisure a future that was truncated by their illegal separation and liquidation of their assets.

As Americans we believe we are entitled to some answers so that we might turn the chapter on this un finished story.

Why was Clara Fernandez separated from her husband during the last year of his life ? On what legal grounds?

Why did the Florida DCF, blink, nod and look the other way, while Dr's Fernandez's long standing powers of attorneys,surrogate Proxy powers, and letter of instruction regarding his wife were ignored?

Do we live in a nation of laws, or do we? Which is it?

Even though every legal organization that purports to protect our elders, qualify isolation as elder abuse, why was no action taken to re unite Dr. Fernandez and his wife before she was led around four (4) counties on a wild goose chase while her assets were being vacated?

Why did Dr. Fernandez's cries for help to try to save his wife from isolation,incapacitation,and the financial orgy that followed fall on deaf ears?

Why was no action taken, or interviews done or legal protocol followed when separating two long standing legally married couples and no effort to return them to the protection of their home and to her lawfully wedded husband of 58 years before she was left to her own devices to become incapacitated and paralyzed from neglect result of being overmedicated and left alone in hotel rooms?

If we were talking about the isolation,doping and neglect of children, we would demand immediate action ... so why is it unacceptable for a seven-year-old, but acceptable for a older person?"

It's understandable why children get all the media attention and when one falls through the cracks is cause for concern, but Mr. Butterworth older people deserve attention too! and when they start falling through the cracks, it's time to take notice!

Mr. Butterworth elder victims in Florida are coming foward by the bushels and they have suffered plenty and as citizens gowing older we are concerned that the problems be addressed and the system fixed.

Please bear us the closure, Our family deserves it , Stone silence will not do, we have done with the stone silence for way too long.

Mr. Butterworth, It's time to break the silence, for our sakes and the sakes of those that come after us.

Ray Fernandez
Dr. Fernandez POA 2000
Clara G. Fernandez POA 2000
Health Surrogate and proxy
Trustee and principal caregiver 1999

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Secretary Butterworth;

I am a retired senior and a resident of Okaloosa County, Florida.
I am well acquainted with many senior and retired citizens of Florida living in this area. Myself and others here have learned of the terrible tragedy of Dr. A.J. Fernandez and his wife, Clara Fernandez and the pain inflicted upon their family. We are sad, shocked and appalled.

Mr. Butterworth, it is very obvious the Fernandez family needs answers, assistance and closure. Understandably, the Fernandez family, myself and others depend on our leaders like you to help so we can be safe and feel secure from these kinds of inhumane acts.

I am also the sister of a elderly senior victim of Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in South Carolina. On behalf of myself and my family I am asking you to stand with us hand in hand with the Fernandez family and support them in this crisis so they will find peace and deserved closure.

Please help Stop Elder Abuse and support the Elder Justice Act.

Thank You,
Ethel L. Malone

Anonymous said...

Dear Senator Butterworth,

Many of us from here and around the world have read the heart-wrenching story of Clara Fernandez and her husband, Dr Fernandez.

We have read and viewed reports and documents provided on the website, put up by Ray Fernandez in a desperate attempts to stop the abuse and depleting of Clara's remaining assets.

What really astounded and outraged us all, is that the case has dragged on for far, far too long!

Clara is over 80 years old. How long must the "Legal-circus" be allowed to continue before Clara's family be given back their peace of mind and closure to the case.

The length of time to settle Clara's case is just NOT ACCEPTABLE in any language.

We are stunned by the snail-paced process in this highly publicized case. We are not ashamed to add our support and cry for a urgent stop to the debacle.

Senator, we admire your stands for the benefit of the elderly in Florida. Please give this case your prompt and urgent attention. We are counting on you.

Thank you

Andrew

Anonymous said...

Good afternoon, Sir:

While I am not a resident of Florida, I have several friends and family members that are
and, therefore, I am writing in support of Ray and Dr. and Mrs. Fernandez.

Please help this family obtain closure. As a family member and next of kin to a victim
of elder abuse and exploitation I stand with families across this country who suffer
needlessly because laws are not enforced or are not in place.

Please support the Elder Justice Act in Florida and elsewhere.

Thank you,
IM

Anonymous said...

Hi Ray

My email to senator Butterworth was returned!

Obviously, since innundated with emails re your case, he has closed that email?

Please let me know if you have another alternate email address for him.

Trust you are well.

Anonymous said...

Ray...why did this happen?

--- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
BobButterworth@dcf.state.fl.us
(reason: 550 BobButterworth@dcf.state.fl.us... No such user)

----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to scfdz003.dcf.state.fl.us.:
>>> RCPT To:BobButterworth@dcf.state.fl.us
<<< 550 BobButterworth@dcf.state.fl.us... No such user
550 5.1.1 BobButterworth@dcf.state.fl.us... User unknown

Anonymous said...

Good afternoon, Sir:

While I am not a resident of Florida, I have several friends and family members that are
and, therefore, I am writing in support of Ray and Dr. and Mrs. Fernandez.

Please help this family obtain closure. As a family member and next of kin to a victim
of elder abuse and exploitation I stand with families across this country who suffer
needlessly because laws are not enforced or are not in place.

Please support the Elder Justice Act in Florida and elsewhere.

Thank you,
Irene A. Masiello


Irene A. Masiello / author: PARADISE COSTS--A Victim's Daughter Fights Back Against Elder Abuse...the first pro-active, grassroots REALITY WRITING book urging Americans to help STOP ELDER ABUSE NOW / Elder Advocate & Member of the Elder Justice Coalition / Founder: Starlight Network News / Certified: Holistic Counselor, Stress Management Consultant & Adult Educator / NYC-based magazine columnist authoring a holistically based, spiritual self-help & personal empowerment column since 1998

Anonymous said...

This is the information off the Florida Bar Find a Lawyer website.

I cut and pasted Bob Butterworth's information directly from there. Here it is:


ID Number: - 114422
Address: Department of Children & Family Room 202
1317 Winewood Blvd Ste 1
Tallahassee, Florida 323996570
United States
Phone: 850.4871111
Fax: 850.9222993
E-Mail: BobButterworth@dcf.state.fl.us


County: Leon
Circuit: 2
Admitted: 06/20/1969

Sections: Government Lawyer
Committees: Office Term
Juvenile Court Rules Committee 2010

10-Year Discipline History None

I do not know why it now says that the email address is no good. Lawyers are required to
keep this information up to date.

Anonymous said...

they may shut the site down if it gets too flooded.......