Huizenga service open to the public
South Florida’s business and community members will gather at 10 a.m. Thursday to honor the region’s most well-known entrepreneur, H. Wayne Huizenga, who died March 22 at age 80.
The memorial service, which is open to the public, will take place at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., in Fort Lauderdale.
AutoNation chairman and CEO Mike Jackson, as well as members of the Huizenga family, are expected to speak at the service, said AutoNation spokesman Marc Cannon.
The founder of three Fortune 500 companies, including Fort Lauderdalebased AutoNation, succumbed to a decades-long battle with cancer, according to Bob Henninger, executive vice president for Huizenga Holdings.
Huizenga and his wife Marti, a philanthropist, donated more than $150 million to local causes, according to a news release from AutoNation. Marti Huizenga died in January 2017 at age 74.
Huizenga began his career with the purchase of a single garbage truck in 1962, which led to the co-founding of Waste Management. By 1981, it was the largest waste company in the world. He went on to found the Blockbuster video chain, Republic Industries, Extended Stay America and AutoNation, all operating out of South Florida.
To South Florida residents, he was known through the years as the owner of local sports teams including the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers.
Huizenga is survived by four children: Wayne Jr., Pamela, Scott and Ray; 11 grandchildren; sister Bonnie; niece Holly Bodenweber; nephew Steven Hudson; and brother-in-law Whit Hudson.
For Thursday’s service, public parking garages will be available just north of the theater at 100 SW Ninth Ave., and east at 51 SW Second St. and 150 SE Second St.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cleveland Clinic of Florida Maroone Cancer Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Junior Achievement of South Florida, or the Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund.