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 John
is a man who is known for his love of others, his endless devotion
to his family and friends, and his generous heart that has over the
years had a tremendous impact on more than most would want to try
and number.
John was nominated this year with a summation that speaks volumes in
the first sentence.
“I love this man's heart for his family and his community.
‘While he has owned and operated a family business downtown for
years, it is his love for people that shines through. He is one of
the most generous people I know. He has helped hundreds of people
needing a hand up, a free meal, a shoulder to cry on, a place to
stay, or a job and has mentored more people than I can count...AND
he has given God the glory for all of it!
“This humble man has chaired American Cancer Relays for Life events,
been a member of several local organizations, given free meals to
those in need on Thanksgiving and throughout the year, hosted pizza
parties for youth groups and helped students through school. He’s
visited shut ins and those in the hospital, been an elder at his
church where he served on missions, finance committees and helped
with huge capital campaigns to raise money for his church.”
Those who have ever seen John out and about with family know that
his love for all people starts at home with his own children and
grandchildren, and they feel the love he has for them in every
action.
When Guzzardo was nominated, the first step was to have a talk with
some folks who are closest to him, starting with his son. Nick
Guzzardo grew up by his dad’s side in the family restaurant and
today he is the general manager as John enjoys some well-deserved
time off from the heavy lifting.
When Nick was asked what his dad meant to him, he choked up and
could hardly express himself. Finally he said “Everything. Period.”
Soon he expanded his thoughts saying, “He is solid as a rock! Loyal
to his family, the restaurant, his church (Lincoln Christian) and
his community. He is a 100 percent legit guy."
Guzzardo’s wife Gail was also asked to offer a few
thoughts about her husband. She was happy to do so and the
admiration she has for her husband is a reflection of the sentiments
of the many people who have been impacted by his love and
generosity.
Gail noted, “John is known and loved by our
community as is evidenced daily with the number of people who
gravitate in his direction to say hello and to share memories.
“As a lifelong Lincoln resident, he has built decades of rich
relationships and impacted so many lives in a positive way. In 1957
his mom and dad opened the doors to the restaurant that bears the
family name.
“John began in that business at the age of 12 and expanded the
seating capacity many times over the years, allowing for wonderful
gatherings and great food for our community.
“Son Nick has further built and run the restaurant and Grandson JT
has recently come on board as the fourth generation of Guzzardo
entrepreneurs to serve the delicious food that draws people from all
over central Illinois.”
Gail continues, “Generosity is his middle name and one way you will
see that is through the incredible number of Thanksgiving Meals that
are served for anyone who requests. A less visible measure of his
generosity is evidenced by the number of people he has assisted
financially over the years to fill a need.
“John has also served the community well in directing charitable
events to support needs in our community over the years. There were
also many positive accomplishments paired with fiscal responsibility
during his time as Mayor. I often hear people say ‘John, you were
the best mayor the city has ever had’.
“John has a gift for seeing a need and filling it. Whether this came
through his time as an Elder at Lincoln Christian Church, his
outreach to the community, a need in another country, or other
avenues, so many lives have been blessed because he took the time,
effort, or finances to be a part of the solution. He is funny,
supportive, and a tremendous encourager.”
As Gail Guzzardo mentioned, John has been active in
his community serving in offices that are sometimes far from
popular. He served as a city of Lincoln Alderman and then as the
city’s Mayor. He’s been a member of the Lincoln Elementary School
District 27 School Board, and the treasurer as well as an Elder at
Lincoln Christian Church.
Also, he worked hard serving as the Co-Campaign Chairman to raise
funding to build the current Lincoln Memorial Hospital.
Prior to Covid-19, when annual Relay for Life events were held in
Lincoln, Guzzardo provided the food for the Survivors Dinner on the
night before the relay.
And, of course, thousands, literally thousands of meals have been
handed out the back door of the restaurant on Thanksgiving morning
as Guzzardo and his staff saw to it that anyone and everyone who had
a need was served a meal on Thanksgiving Day.
While Guzzardo’s heart is filled with love for his
community, he has seen struggles over the years, and through those
struggles his belief that showing love is the best way to survive
every challenge shines through. In 2018 Guzzardo spoke at a Cancer
Survivor/Supporter Rally at the LMH Wellness Trail. He spoke with
love about the cancer battles he had witnessed with friends and
loved ones, including his first wife Frankie. He spoke about how the
battle ends, with victory over the disease and years of living life
on earth, or with victory over the disease and an eternal home with
God the Father. He spoke about reaching out to a friend who was a
non-believer and having the personal experience of showing that
friend the path to God and witnessing his salvation. Guzzardo said
that showing love and reaching out to others is a symbol of unity in
all things.
Guzzardo has made some dear friends over the years, and among them
are Bill and Blinn Bates.
When Bill was asked to share his feelings about
his friend, he wrote the following message.
“I have known John as far back as I can remember although we
became much closer when I returned to Lincoln in 1979, after Law
School. I do not think I have ever met, or known, a person who had a
greater interest in helping make Lincoln/Logan County a better place
than John. He was always doing something to help someone in our
community whether it was related to Lincoln Christian Church, the
hospital, the schools, the Lincoln City Council, or the many civic
groups that he has supported.
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“John served on the Lincoln City Council, his
Church Board of Elders, and the Lincoln Elementary School District
Board of Education. I am sure I have overlooked some of the Boards
or Councils he sat on but those are the ones that come to mind first
for me. Of course, at one point, John served as Mayor of Lincoln and
had no motive or ambition other than to make Lincoln a better place
to live and work.
“For many, many years, John and his family have provided free
Thanksgiving Meals to those less fortunate in and around Lincoln.
Over the years, many people have helped in that endeavor and the
number of meals they serve on Thanksgiving Day has grown to many
hundreds if not thousands. John and his family provide these meals
on Thanksgiving Day and do all of the work before they personally
enjoy their own Thanksgiving. It is that selfless kind of thing that
makes John such an asset to the Lincoln community. If someone or
some group needs help with something, John Guzzardo is the first one
in line to help.
“John and I served as Co-Chairman of the Capital Champaign to build
the new Hospital in Lincoln. Through that experience I came to
realize how much John cares for the community of Lincoln. Together,
we spent countless hours meeting with citizens and businesses in and
around Lincoln in an attempt to raise funds for the new hospital.
John was always right there to talk with anyone about the benefits a
new hospital would bring to Lincoln. If I heard John say it once I
heard him say it a thousand times, ‘we have to have good schools and
a good Hospital to attract or retain people in Lincoln’.
“John has always been very active in the Lincoln Christian Church,
having served many terms as an Elder and I think also as Treasurer.
“You could not meet a kinder and more gentle soul than John Guzzardo.
He helps others constantly without any expectations of them. He
lives by his Christian Faith and treats people kindly and always
willing to help others. As John often says, “you got to believe!”
Bill
William B. Bates
Blinn Bates is Bill’s son and has grown up witnessing
the great friendship between his father and Guzzardo. And he’s been
blessed to call Guzzardo his friend too. Blinn’s memories of
Guzzardo go back to his childhood and continue on just as does the
friendship to this day.
“I have known John Guzzardo my entire life,” says Blinn Bates.
“My earliest memories are having dinners and cookouts with the
Guzzardo family. I remember John’s boisterous laughter while we
watched America’s Funniest Home Videos after dinner.
“When I think about John, I always think about his generosity. Not
just to me personally, but to the community as a whole. He has
dedicated countless hours and resources to the community he loves.
Whether it was serving the city as the most popular Mayor of my
lifetime, serving his church, traveling to cheer on the Railers, or
serving meals to the less fortunate, John has a tremendous heart for
our community.
“John has taught me a lot about what it means to
give back and serve one’s community, and he has taught me countless
other lessons that have helped me to become the man I am today.
“I worked for John at the Illinois State Fair for many summers. I
rode down to Springfield with John early and came home with him late
every day. Those drives home were usually pretty quiet because we
were worn out, but also there was a sense of accomplishment at the
work we had done. That work taught me what it meant to work hard,
but it also taught me about responsibility and accountability. I
remember one evening after a long day working at the fair, a friend
of mine that also worked with us and I decided to stay out late
partying after we returned home from work. There were not many words
exchanged between John and I the next day, but the message from the
boss man was clear: ‘You committed to working and no special
treatment is going to be given just because you made a poor
decision’.
As I have gotten older and taken more notice, John’s generosity,
love of his community, and his faith have all become even more
apparent to me. John has a gift for evangelism, but he does not just
talk the talk. He lives his life in a way that aligns with his
values and his belief in Christ. His life is a testament that there
is most certainly good in this world, and our community continues to
be blessed by him. I am very proud to call him my friend.”
Blinn Bates
Woods & Bates, P.C.
Now, John really doesn’t know much about this
nomination to be one of the Lincoln Daily News’ 2023 Hometown
Heroes. We hope he isn’t aggravated with LDN for bringing him into
the spotlight. The reason we say this, is that topping off Johns
remarkable character is his humility.
You see, we at LDN also know John pretty well. He will tell you that
he is no hero, instead he is a man who has been blessed by God and
given a loving family he is proud of, friends that support him as
much as he supports them, and the wonderful ability to be able to
help when help is needed. He will give all the glory to God for the
life he has experienced, the joys he has known, and the hardships he
has endured.
He will tell you that no man is capable of doing anything without
God blessing it and making it so.
For those of us who know John Guzzardo, that is just one more aspect
of what makes him a hero in our eyes and in the hearts of all those
who know and love him.
Thank you John, for being you, just the way you are.
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