LONGTIME COUNCILMAN ‘JUMPING JOHNNY’ DIES
John “Jumping Johnny” DeFazio — who served as Allegheny County Council president, a labor leader and even a professional wrestler — died Friday. He was 80. Read the obituary in Local,
John DeFazio, who leapt from a TV wrestling ring and into public life, ultimately rising to Allegheny County Council president, died Friday at age 80.
Mr. DeFazio, of Shaler, was a fixture on the council since from its inception in 2000 until 2019, when he was defeated by first-time candidate Bethany Hallam, of Ross, in the Democratic primary.
Local elected officials mourned his passing, both in statements and on social media.
“John was a mentor, a friend, a colleague, and a guiding voice who taught me about what it is to be an elected official,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald in a statement Friday. “For all of us who served on that first Council, he taught us about this new government that he had helped shepherd in that so many of us now take for granted. And as part of that education, he stepped to the side and pushed us, his colleagues, into leadership positions. I would not be County Executive today if it were not for John’s influence and encouragement.”
Mr. DeFazio served as council president during the body’s first term after the county transitioned from a commissioner- style
government and during his last term.
He was also widely known for his role in organized labor. Mr. DeFazio worked in the region’s steel mills and at the age of 29 he won the presidency of his local union. By age 36, he became the international staff representative for the United Steelworkers and later worked as the director of the United Steelworkers in Pennsylvania.
“John was a bipartisan leader of council, and a teacher to new members, who fostered unity among council,” Mr. Fitzgerald added. “A union leader, he also focused on improving the quality of life and working conditions, championing efforts to enact a living wage in the county and urged council to take positions on issues such as federal foreign trade policies and the UPMC-Highmark dispute.
Mr. Fitzgerald said his colleague also “shepherded legislation through council that increased the amount of the homestead exemption to protect property owners, set county goals for veteranowned business participation, decreased the poured drink and car rental tax, required auditing of county voting machines and implemented a video monitoring system in the elections warehouse. He was most proud of his work on the creation of the Human Relations Commission and the protections that it provided for residents who were experiencing discrimination in housing, employment and other contexts.”
State Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, posted on Twitter that Pittsburgh has lost a “legend” and referred to Mr. DeFazio’s former wrestling career, during which he used the name “Jumping Johnny” and appeared on Channel 11’s “Studio Wrestling” program.
“He was an expert in delicately
balancing the values and needs of all Members, regardless of party affiliation,” current Allegheny County Council President Pat Catena said in a statement Friday. “He will always be remembered as an inaugural Member of the newly created Council who helped shape the government that we know today. To his wife Marsha, and his family and friends, we extend our condolences. Johnny will be missed but not forgotten.”
Tributes also came in from Ms. Hallam and from the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council.
Sam DeMarco, chairman of the county Republican Party and an at- large county councilman, said, “John ‘ Jumping Johnny’ DeFazio was the definition of larger-than-life. While he always carried himself as that athletic pro-wrestler from his younger days, John DeFazio was always one of the best informed and most knowledgeable members of Allegheny County Council.
“He treated his job as County Council President and as one of the At-Large members with great reverence and respect. He wore his love for his community on his sleeve.”
Mr. Fitzgerald has ordered all county flags flown at half-staff in honor of Mr. DeFazio.