JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — *The above video is from October 2023 when Judi Zitiello received First Coast News On Your Side's 12 Who Care Lifetime Achievement Award. The entire station was saddened Wednesday to learn she had died after battling pancreatic cancer for 11 years. Zitiello's work raising millions of dollars for cancer patients and disabled people through the J.T. Townsend Foundation and the Funk-Zitiello Foundation exemplifies the mission of First Coast News On Your Side. The following article was written by Jeannie Blaylock on Oct. 20, 2023, when Zitiello was given the 12 Who Care Lifetime Achievement Award.
You cannot spend ten seconds with Judi Zitiello without seeing that spark - that moxie. At the same time, you sense a deep peace in her face. Her eyes still twinkle, even though doctors are now telling her she may have only months to live.
Somehow Zitiello life doesn't seem short; it seems long, packed with rich relationships and giving back.
She is always talking about her faith. In her new book, "Woven" Zitiello says: "Life never ends, it just transforms. We will always be together, so long as we know Jesus."
Zitiello says she is grateful for the "dinners, flowers, cards, and texts" that have brightened her darkest days.
However, other people would say it was actually Zitiello who lifted them up. Carmen Townsend is one of those people.
The Jacksonville community knows the story of her son, JT, who was paralyzed on the football field and spent the remainder of his life helping families dealing with disabilities.
"He was 17 when it occurred and he became a quadriplegic," Zitiello said. "He told me, 'It's only through God that I can smile.'"
JT inspired Zitiello and she became the leader of the JT Townsend Foundation to help those with disabilities.
Then in 2013, JT suddenly died. His mom was heartbroken. But at a gathering to honor Zitiello, Townsend hugged her and said, "Oh, thank you. Thank the Lord. You carried me and I was in a dark place. I want to say thank you."
Then a moment so typical of Zitiello's passionate outreach, she surprised JT's mom with a check for $150,000 to continue her son's work to help disabled children get items like electric wheelchairs or special shower equipment.
Her work with JT and his mom is just part of "the force" of Zitiello.
Zitiello, along with her husband Tommy and PGA golfer Fred Funk, established the nonprofit Champions for Hope. The group says it's raised more than $3.5 million to fight pancreatic cancer. The money is helping researchers make progress toward catching the cancer early.
That's critical because most patients, 88%, die within five years of diagnosis.
For Zitiello, it's been nine years since her diagnosis.
Now, though, she says, "I chose to stop all treatment. It was making me so ill."
She wants to spend time relaxing with family and friends.
"I tell everyone I've been given an expiration date. I don't know when that date is, but I know it's near," she says, still with that spark in her eyes. She says hospice is set up and ready.
"I am so at peace with it," she says. She talks about Heaven and the first person she wants to see. "JT, first of all. Oh, my gosh, we're going to dance!"
Meanwhile, her friends and family are expressing how much they appreciate her.
Her husband, Tommy, said, "I'm thankful the Lord put you into my life so I can learn to love in so many ways." Then he embraces her and said, "We will live one day at a time, and I promise you I will love you even more."
