Flagler County, FL (March 7, 2022) – As the day comes to a close, it’s only fitting that the sound of rain against the window echoes the tears that have fallen across Flagler County today.
Phones began buzzing early this morning with the news that one of Flagler’s favorite sons had passed.
Joe Rizzo was one of those people that was larger than life.
As the executive director of the Flagler County Education Foundation, his tenacity for education and the students was unparalleled.
Competitive, at the helm Joe helped make the organization’s signature events ‘the place to be’, while increasing the foundation’s ability to fundraise and support student excellence. He and his team – whether it was foundation staff or the board of director’s volunteers, pulled out the stops to be the best.
From Alice In Wonderland to the National Lampoon’s Griswold Family Christmas-themed events, they made every event fun, and bigger and better than the last one.
“My memories will always be filled with his snazzy gala outfits and his “don’t worry, I think I know a guy” replies. When our friendship evolved into a partnership I always had a confidence knowing that everything was going to be ok when Joe was around. His ability to connect with people on a positive level resulted in his large successes for our community, especially our children. My love to Teresa, Caroline and Joseph-your hero will be greatly missed,” said close friend Carla Cline, co-founder of the Josh Crews Writing Project and annual gala.
Joe’s ability to connect extended to everyone he met because it was genuine.
“Joe was one of the first people to make me welcome when I came to FCEF,” said Deborah Williams, past executive director of the Flagler County Education Foundation. “His deep love for his community and family was the source from which he built his success leading the foundation. It just felt good being around Joe. I am forever grateful for his support, humor and the big loving embrace he offered to everyone he met.”
“My best memories of Joe are in putting on the annual golf tournament. Joe’s vision to offer food and drink on every hole was a huge endeavor, something I would not have attempted without his leadership. Lots of beer, jello shots and golfers just having fun were all Joe’s doing,” she said. “I always worried that a golfer would get hurt or go to jail after so much fun at golf tournaments. Joe assured me all would be fine, and it was!”
When it came time to deliver, from handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual student scholarships to the recent pride in watching Flagler Palm Coast High School student Dylan Long accept Flagler’s first Take Stock In Children Leaders for Life Fellowship, Joe was modest, stepping back from the spotlight to let others shine.
He was a part of just about everything going on in Flagler County and that crossover brought people from all walks of life together while in service to his community.
“Joe’s passing is a huge loss to the community,” said friend Greg Davis.
“My heart and prayers go out to his family and the community. I joined the Flagler County Education Foundation Board because of Joe and his commitment to the students, the staff, and Flagler County Schools. Flagler Tiger Bay Club would not have our Young Tiger Program working with the schools had it not been for Joe. A lot of our success with our scholarship program, helping the next generation of leaders, would not have been possible without Joe’s commitment and driving force to be successful for the kids,” he said.
“To me Joe represented what communities strive for, the successful passing of the torch to the next generation of leaders, building on success, and taking the community to the next level. Joe is a role model for all of our young leaders and the community as a whole. I believe the quality of a community can be measured by the quality of the education system. Joe will be missed. I will miss Joe,” said Davis.
“Like the rest of the community I was saddened to learn of Joe’s sudden passing. Joe was a strong supporter of our school children and the community and was a friend to everyone who met him,” remarked Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly.
“He was the ultimate community partner that you could always count on. Debbie and I along with the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office extend our deepest condolences to his wife Teresa and his children Joseph and Caroline.”
But Joe wasn’t just a community leader. He was a father and a friend.
Chris Zwirn, owner of Bull Creek Fish Camp, shared a few of his cherished memories.
“My favorite memories of Joe are watching him with my kids. He will always hold a special place in my heart because of the way he treated them. Some examples of those special times are when Joe and Caroline taught my oldest son, Cal, how to dig up the “perfect” periwinkle shell at Flagler Beach. Once he sat for well over an hour on the dock at Bull Creek and patiently caught minnows with my daughter Emma. He gave my youngest son, Pax, his first bite of solid food – shrimp and grits at Flagler Fish Company,” said Zwirn.
“While it’s true his legacy will surely live on in the community, it will also live on in the individual lives he touched,” he said.
Dr. Jennifer Thornton has known Joe for decades, recalling the days of playful youth that even though an adult, Joe still embodied.
“I have so many funny, and fond memories about Joe Rizzo. There are numerous stories that began over 30 years ago,” she shared.
“I remember being in high school and hanging out at his house, while his parents were out to dinner. They suddenly came home, and he told me to hide. So, I hid in the closet, while he talked to his parents. His dog Gucci paced back and forth in front of the closet. I think I was in the closet for an hour, before I could get out. We laughed so hard. Joe loved making people laugh,” she said.
“There was never a dull moment when he was around. He was full of surprises. At my high school graduation party, he started a cake fight in my parent’s all white kitchen. His father’s face was covered in frosting. I still have the pictures.”
“Joe, also had a serious and caring side to him. He’d do anything for you, you just had to ask. He had so many friends. He loved his family and was very proud of his children. Over, the years, our children and families have spent many holidays together. It’s a big loss to so many people in this community. I am heartbroken, and shocked like many others. Joe was so full of life and so young. He was just a big kid, in an adult body. I am blessed to have had a friend, like Joe,” said Thornton.
“I am so proud of everything he accomplished. He was respectful, kind, funny, and deeply passionate about the Flagler County Education Foundation. Our board meetings were always productive, but filled with so much laughter. His excitement to help students was contagious. Joe loved handing out grants to teachers and walking around schools with the giant Toyota Beaver. He would get very emotional when he spoke about the students. Joe made a strong impact on this community. I know that his legacy will live on,” she said.
Close friend Joe Wright wanted Joe to be remembered for his selflessness and love for the community – as “a person whose heart was so big it couldn’t be contained in this world”.
“Joe Rizzo was a special kind of friend. Whether it was him walking into our office on a Friday to tell stories, or lunch where we would solve the problems of the city, county or state. I most remember his selflessness. When my father passed Joe pulled up a chair to my table to hear my sorrow. Little did I know he had lost his father in the same week I was there. He sat so intently paying only attention to my story all the while dealing with his own strife,” shared Wright.
“Also, I remember the Josh Crews event at the airport when the storms were so strong it was blowing the tents apart. Joe calmly moved the party to Woody’s and made it more of a night to remember. I have so many stories about Joe and his huge personality and his ability to keep the party going to the very end. I will miss him.”
Likeminded people gravitate to one another and Joe could often be seen in the group photos early in the morning as part of business coach Jay Scherr’s inspirational daily quote, from the gym.
“It’s not the years in our life that matter. It’s the life in our years. Joe was a true heart-led servant leader who lived fully and accomplished so much good for Flagler County and beyond,” shared Scherr.
“He would light up the room with his energy and passion. Joe was inquisitive and had a thirst for knowledge. He was so proud of his family and knew how blessed he was. He was an amazing connector of people and a trailblazer in many ways who was just getting started. I’ll miss our morning conversations on life, leadership, and self-improvement. Joe changed the world and his impact will continue to be felt far and wide.”
As Flagler County comes to terms with an unfathomable loss, we can strive to be our best and build on the example he set. Real and honest, he gave 110 percent to everything he did, and made everyone feel like they had something to offer.
Chris Zwirn best summed it up with the following: “As those who know Joe are aware, Joe Rizzo was always outward facing. He looked for new opportunities in everything, with the end goal always being to help someone. He has done things in and for Flagler County, the likes of which will never be seen again. His legacy will live on.”
