Candidate for Sarasota Memorial hospital board dies after battle with leukemia

Englewood resident John A. Lutz, a longtime advocate of patient care who filed in January as a Democrat seeking the At-Large Seat 2 on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, died July 24 at age 64, following a three-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The news of Lutz’ death was shared in an email by Sarasota County Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Kuether.

“John has become a friend to many of us over the last six months, and our hearts go out to his wife, Holly, and his family now,” Kuether wrote.

A formal statement released by the party characterized Lutz as a dedicated and passionate advocate for health care with more than 40 years of experience in hospitals, health systems and health care consulting.

“As a candidate for Sarasota County Hospital Board, At-Large, Seat 2, John brought his commitment to community health and a vision for Sarasota Memorial Hospital's future, which has left an indelible mark,” Kuether wrote.

A long career in health care

A native of Roxbury, N.Y,, Lutz earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry at SUNY Oneonta in 1980 and spent his early career at Bassett Medical Center, in Cooperstown, N.Y., according to his obituary at Legacy.com.

Lutz met his wife Holly in 1984, while he was completing his masters in Public Health at Yale Business School. They married in 1985 and had four daughters: Meredith Lutz Olsen (Aaron), Brittany Lutz Harris (Colin), Aislinne Lutz, and Elleanor Lutz.

In 1989, he joined Albany Associates in Cardiology where he later became CEO.

In 1997, he played a key role in forming Prime Care Physicians, and was CEO, until his transition to consulting on the national level, in 2006.

Lutz also served as a volunteer firefighter at the Elsmere Fire Department, in Bethlehem, New York.

More information is available in his Legacy.com obituary at https://bit.ly/3WE36NO .

What happens in the At-Large Seat 2 election?

Lutz was one of four candidates seeking At-Large Seat 2 on the hospital board and – along with write-in candidate Donna Hurlock – would have faced the winner of a Republican primary between Kevin Cooper and Dr. Stephen Guffanti in November.

The presence of Hurlock guarantees that the Aug. 20 primary between Cooper and Guffanti will remain closed.

Kuether said Sunday that he planned to meet with Sarasota County Super of Elections Ron Turner to see what the party’s options are for the 2024 election.

“If we are permitted, we will try and find another candidate,” Kuether said.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Candidate for Sarasota Memorial hospital board dies after battle with leukemia