Joseph Michael Eddinger was extremely outgoing and fun-loving. A natural born athlete, he started playing hockey at the age of five. In high school, he played hockey with the Canandaigua Knights as well as hockey and lacrosse for the Canandaigua Braves. Passion for all things athletic seamlessly translated from hockey to lacrosse, taking him down a bright path at the University of Albany, where he excelled on the UAlbany Great Danes Lacrosse team. Sports opened a world that spoke to Joseph.
Joseph was not only a multi-sport athlete and enthusiast but also a cherished family member. Lovingly known as “Uncle Softy,” Joseph had a special place in his heart for his niece and often volunteered to watch her on weekends, a task few uncles volunteer for, but which Joseph was happy to take on.
“He wasn’t only my son; he was my best friend,” says Tim Eddinger, Joseph’s father. In July 2020, Joseph Michael Eddinger lost his young life to suicide.
Suicide plagues our local communities and afflicts people nationwide. According to recent data from CDC.gov, suicide has affected 54% of Americans in some way, and 90% of Americans who have lost their lives due to suicide had a diagnosable mental condition at the time of their death.
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Ontario County in Victor, NY, in association with the Ontario County Partnership, hopes to address misconceptions about mental health and open lines of local communication.
Executive Director Tracey Dello Stritto says, “We have really worked hard to address needs in communities that don’t have access to mental support.” The Coalition maintains offices in Canandaigua, Geneva, and Naples, offering free therapy and other services. Stritto says, “[We] are trying to strategically look at the county, the community and the need, and address that. We really want to reduce the barrier of cost and reduce the barrier of transportation. Solution-focused free therapy is what we offer through this program. Our licensed counselors work with [individuals] to identify tools for patients to have in their ‘toolbox’. ”
The community support center also offers activities that address physical and mental health, Stritto says as the need to connect is vital as human beings, Stritto says. The Ontario County Partnership creates unique traditional and nontraditional therapy opportunities for individuals and families. Ever-expanding, they continually look for new ways to reach those who need them most, and the Partnership feels collaboration on a local level is crucial.
Stritto emphasizes the combination of formal therapy with opportunities for community togetherness. For example, they coordinate with a local art gallery for an activity where the focus is simply coming to be together. The Partnership also formed a post-pandemic group focusing on encouraging people to come socialize. The Partnership also focuses on opportunities for youth to connect, such as the “Letters and Lattes” program that helps young people explore their creativity through youth-selected art projects.
The inaugural Joseph “Edge” Eddinger memorial golf tournament kicked off last year at Ravenwood Golf Course in Victor, NY. The tournament received overwhelming response from the community and over fifty sponsors, a turnout fitting for Joseph, for whom “community and family meant everything” his father says. Last year’s event raised $20,000 in proceeds, which Tim and Jessica Eddinger gifted to the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Ontario in association with the Ontario County Partnership.
Support begins at the grassroots level, and the Eddingers recognize that community engagement makes an enormous impact for those struggling with depression and anxiety, or for those who simply need someone to listen. Though nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, the Eddinger family, with organizations such as the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Ontario County, hope to increase mental health awareness.
“If we could just save one life it will be worth it,” Tim Eddinger says.
