Beyond the Darkness: A Family's Journey Through Grief and Advocacy

What does resilience look like in the face of unthinkable loss? Debbie McClintock found herself navigating that question when she lost both her husband Pete and son Logan to suicide within five months. Rather than letting grief define her story, she chose to honor how they lived."Pete had a really big heart," Debbie shares, describing a quiet computer programmer who loved chess and telling corny jokes. Logan, her "wanderer and dreamer," was sharp-witted with aspirations to teach English abroad. Father and son shared a special bond on the Appalachian Trail—a connection that later inspired a remarkable journey toward healing and advocacy.Through therapy, scholarships, and becoming "trail angels," Debbie celebrated their legacies. A gift from her now-husband, Chip—a license plate honoring Logan’s trail name “Wolverine”—sparked a realization: Ohio had no suicide prevention plate. Within two years, they helped pass legislation signed by Governor Mike DeWine.Today, Ohio’s first suicide prevention license plate raises awareness for the 988 Crisis Lifeline and supports men’s mental health programs. Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential support.