John L Azdell

John L. Azdell – 77, died Sunday, November 10, 2013 with family at his side. John was born in Calcutta, OH and moved to the Tampa Bay area in 1957. While in Ohio, John worked for Stonecipher & Donaldson Chevrolet in East Liverpool. This started him on his path in the automotive industry. He graduated from the General Motors Institute of Technology with sponsorship from Stonecipher, and began his long, rewarding and award winning career in the automotive service business. He was Service Manager for Sharp Cadillac, Tampa, FL and then moved to St. Petersburg, FL to join the family owned Dew Cadillac as Service Director. Owner Page Harris and John worked side-by-side to build an outstanding dealership that was committed to providing excellent service to all its customers. John was the first president of the prestigious Jack Williams Group, a national and international organization dedicated to customer satisfaction in automotive service. He also served as a member of the Cadillac Motorcar Division Service Council. After 38 years of service, and after the death of the business patriarch Page Harris, John left the business and started the next chapter of his life. John's greatest pride was his family and friends. He shared his life with his wife of 56 years, the Honorable Ann Azdell, and their children and families; Larry & Kathy Azdell of Acworth GA, Dr. Grant & Jane Azdell and their children Andrew and Caroline from Glen Allen VA, and Darren & Marnie Azdell and their children Eian, Ella and Elea of Brooksville, FL. With his wife Ann and son Darren, an architect, they embarked on clearing 20 acres of beautiful land in Hernando Co. and building their lifelong dream of a family homestead. He and Ann were also avid travelers and spent many vacations travelling the waterways throughout Europe. His service to both his country and his community is something in which his family takes great pride. John served in the Army as a Cryptography Instructor at Ft. Gordon, GA and then served in active reserve duty with the 231st Reserve Unit in Ft. Eustus, VA. His commitment to community was evident in the many organizations with which he was involved. He was a deacon for Palm Lake Christian Church (St.Petersburg) where he operated the SHARE food bank program with his dear friends Gene Downs and the late Rev. J.W. Cate. Other charities that were important to John were the St. Vincent DePaul's food bank, Habitat for Humanity, the Farm Workers self-help organization, Jerico Ministries of Hernando Co., and the Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa. He was a cancer survivor and kept in touch with his good friends and fellow survivors from the Dattoli Cancer center. While his three boys were growing up in St. Petersburg, John was also involved in the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America and the Boca Ciega High School Band Booster organization. Always looking for ways to pay it forward, John was instrumental in teaching and promoting vocational training in both Pinellas and Manatee counties for those seeking training in the automotive service industry. He was particularly proud of the graduates of the Dixie Hollins Automotive Program, many of whom he hired as automotive technicians. John is the son of the late W. Levi & Clotha Azdell of Calcutta, OH. He leaves behind many dear family and friends including his sisters Leona Linabury and her daughters Linda and Joan of St. Petersburg FL and Marjorie Eads of Woodstock GA, and her children, Patrica, James and Sam. He will also be remembered by longtime friends Gene & Bettie-Love Downs, the Rev. Dr. Frances Gay, Judy Cate and lifelong friends from East Liverpool High School, Chris & Helen Ebaugh and Dick & Donna Williams. May we always remember his humor, his talent and his devotion to friends and family. A private burial will be held for immediate family. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to Dawn Center, P.O. Box 6179, Spring Hill, FL 34611 (www.thedawncenter.com) or Humane Society of Nature Coast, P.O. Box 10328, Brooksville, FL 34603 (http://humanerescue.org), or Palm Lake Christian Church, 5401 22nd Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 (www.palmlakecc.org)