Pizzo and his wife, Patti, moved to Bloomington in the 1950s. Pizzo became active in local government after working as a doctor in Bloomington. He is remembered for fathering the 2003 Ordinance 03-06, which banned smoking in enclosed public spaces in the city.
He said that during his time as a doctor he diagnosed lung cancer to non-smoking patients and attributed their illnesses to exposure to secondhand smoke. The ordinance was his way of taking action for the health of Bloomington residents.
“I’ve diagnosed lung cancer so many times,” Pizzo told the Indiana Daily Student in 2008. “I’ve always felt that we should pass it.”
After the ordinance passed, many communities followed Bloomington’s suit on banning smoking in public areas, Pizzo told the IDS. He said local restaurants and bars did not suffer economically from the ordinance and the community is healthier because of it.
“I think that most of the responders, particularly bars and restaurants, did better,” he said.
Pizzo’s life and contributions to the community were celebrated at Wednesday’s city council meeting. He was a councilmember from 1993 to 2003.
“One of the things I learned from Tony was it is always best to say little over a lot,” Councilman Tim ?Mayer said at the meeting.
Mayer mentioned Pizzo’s smoking ban ordinance, sharing an anecdote about how Pizzo convinced him to vote against his own proposed amendment to the ordinance, a one-year exemption for businesses on the smoking ban.
“I know he lived a full and productive life, and condolences to his family,” Mayer said.
Bloomington will feel the loss of Pizzo’s passing, councilman Dave Rollo said Wednesday.
“He was clearly a person of importance, but always took the time to share,” Rollo said. “We lost a force in the community ... a force for good.”
Pizzo was part of a group of civically engaged physicians, councilman Andy Ruff said.
“He was an example of all us to look to on how to live a meaningful and important life,” Ruff said. “He was always working to be part of the solution.”
After remarks were shared, the council and meeting guests shared a moment of silence for Pizzo.
Local government reporter Neal Earley contributed ?reporting.
