John Luzzo Obituary

Judge John (Jack) Luzzo, 75 years, of Fort Lauderdale, FL died at home on November 26, 2021. Born August 21, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, the fourth son of Willard and Ruth Luzzo. As a child living in Chicago, Jack suffered from severe asthma. At the recommendation of doctors, his mother relocated to South Florida where he ultimately thrived.

Jack graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1964 and was offered a baseball scholarship to the University of Florida, Gainesville and played in his freshman year. While at the University of Florida, under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Cade Jack and his classmates help develop what we know today as Gatorade. Jack received his B.S.J. (Journalism, with a business administration minor) and J.D. degrees from the University of Florida in 1968 and 1973, respectively. The State of Florida presented John T. Luzzo with a law license in 1973. Jack worked as a general civil practice lawyer for eight and a half years before he was called into public service and appointed Judge by Governor Bob Graham to the Broward County Court in 1981. He was then elevated by the Governor to the circuit court in 1985, to Civil Division judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Florida. He was re-elected in 2010 retiring in 2017. Judge Luzzo was one of the longest sitting Judges in Florida history, serving 36 years on the bench and appointed at the young age of 34. He presided over many high-profile cases in Broward County that helped guide legislation, making impactful decisions to best represent the law which he highly regarded.

Judge Luzzo earned nationwide fame in the 1980s for being the first judge in the country to sentence someone to jail for animal abuse. Jack also spent almost a decade in family court and while at times heartbreaking was where he served his community with diligence, professionalism, leadership, fairness, respect and empathy. These qualities remained at his core through-out his professional and personal life. Qualities he always instilled in his children and grandchildren.

Jack met his bride Barbara in Chicago shortly after graduating from University of Florida in 1968. They fell in love and married on April 11th, 1970. Barbara moved to Florida to start a family with Jack soon after. Jack was a passionate sports fan and die-hard Gators & Cubs supporter. Jack was a very a private family man, shunning the glitz and glamour of private practice to serve his community with the hope of making it a better place. He loved nothing more than to be with family unless of course if the Gators were playing. He will be missed by all whose lives he has touched both professionally and personally and our community is all the better for his passion commitment and leadership.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Barbara; his mother, Ruth Margaret Malloy; his father, Willard Ryan Luzzo; and his three brothers: Samuel, Willard, and James. Jack is survived by his loving daughter Whitney Luzzo-Kelly of Banora Point NSW Australia, son Michael Luzzo of Jacksonville, 3 grandchildren – Lachlan, Kai & Finley, his adored baby sister Ruth Ann Suer of Austin, TX, daughter-in-law Joanna, son-in-law Damian, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will host a joint Memorial service for Jack & Barbara Luzzo Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at St. Pius Catholic Church, 2500 NE 33rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305 at 2 pm, with a reception to receive friends at the Cambria Hotel Fort Lauderdale 2231 North Ocean Blvd. FLL 33305 from 3-7 pm.

A memorial website has been set up to share memories of Judge John Thomas "Jack" Luzzo; https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/JackLuzzo/.

In lieu of flowers please direct donations to Junior Achievement FLL, Special Olympics Broward County, The Pantry of Broward in his honour.