This article may be a little more personal than what you typically read on Eye on Jacksonville, but sometimes a life touches yours in such a profound way that you simply have to stop and acknowledge it. Allison DeFoor was one of those rare individuals whose extraordinary life deserves to be remembered, not just for what he accomplished, but for the man he was and the love he gave to those around him.
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Some people live ordinary lives. Some live extraordinary lives. And then there was Allison DeFoor.
If Hollywood had written a movie about Allison’s life, most of us would have walked out of the theater saying, “Well, that was entertaining, but nobody could possibly have done all those things!”
Except Allison did.
He was a sheriff, a judge, a prosecutor, a public defender, a political candidate, a law professor, an environmental champion, a community leader, and an Episcopal priest.
And that was just the beginning.
Allison DeFoor passed away on October 27, 2026, at the age of 72, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of public service, faith, friendship, and love.
But I want to tell you about the Allison I knew.
First, There Was Randy
Before I knew Allison, I knew his wife, Randy DeFoor.
And Randy is quite an extraordinary woman in her own right.
Many Jacksonville residents know Randy as a former Jacksonville City Councilwoman who represented District 14 from 2019 to 2023. An accomplished attorney and business executive, Randy has spent decades serving our community through business, education, civic organizations, and public office.
During her time on City Council, she helped investigate the controversial proposed sale of JEA, asking difficult questions and working to bring accountability and transparency to City Hall.
Randy is a strong, intelligent, accomplished woman with a heart for her community. And I was blessed to call her my friend before I knew Allison.
When Randy introduced me to her husband, I quickly discovered that she had married one of the most fascinating men I had ever met.
And what a pair they were!
Two strong personalities. Two accomplished people. Two individuals who understood public service, leadership, and the importance of making a difference.
But first, let me tell you a little more about Allison’s remarkable life.
A Man Who Lived More Lives Than Most of Us Could Imagine
The first time I sat with Allison, he immediately brought a sense of wonder to our conversation.
The stories began, and they just kept coming.
Stories about the Florida Keys, politics, criminals, governors, judges, environmental battles, and experiences that seemed almost impossible to believe.
But they were true. Every incredible one of them.
This was a man who had lived more lives than most people could imagine.
Consider just a few chapters of his remarkable journey.
At just 28 years old, Allison became a county judge in Monroe County. He had already worked as a prosecutor and would go on to serve as a circuit judge and sheriff of Monroe County during an era when the Florida Keys were dealing with serious drug trafficking and crime.
Imagine the stories he could tell from those days!
In 1990, he became Governor Bob Martinez’s running mate in the race for governor and lieutenant governor of Florida.
Later, Governor Jeb Bush appointed him Florida’s “Everglades Czar,” placing him in the middle of one of the most important environmental restoration efforts in the state’s history.
A seventh-generation Floridian, Allison loved Florida and worked tirelessly to protect its natural treasures.
He helped lead the effort for Florida’s 2014 Water and Land Conservation Amendment alongside former Governor Bob Graham. That amendment passed with approximately 75% of the vote.
As president and CEO of the North Florida Land Trust, he continued his mission of preserving the natural beauty of the state he loved.
But perhaps one of the most fascinating chapters in Allison’s life was his calling to the ministry.
Allison became an ordained Episcopal priest and spent years ministering to incarcerated men.
Think about that for a moment.
A man who once prosecuted criminals, sentenced defendants as a judge, and served as sheriff ultimately devoted much of his life to helping prisoners discover redemption, forgiveness, and God’s grace.
Now that is a story Hollywood should tell!
Allison also served as a law professor, worked with numerous nonprofit organizations, and helped shape public policy throughout Florida.
His education alone was remarkable, spanning law, criminology, geography, and theology.
He could converse about almost anything because he had experienced almost everything.
And yet, through all those accomplishments, he remained a wonderful storyteller with a marvelous sense of humor and an unmistakable love for life.
But Here Is What Impressed Me Most
It wasn’t his accomplishments.
It wasn’t his connections.
It wasn’t the extraordinary stories.
It was how he loved Randy.
As the years passed and we spent more time with Allison and Randy, I came to appreciate something far more meaningful than anything on his impressive résumé.
Here was a man who had walked alongside governors, faced down criminals, influenced public policy, protected Florida’s environment, and served God in extraordinary ways.
Yet when he was with Randy, his attention was on her.
He adored her.
He supported her.
He mentored her.
He stood beside her.
He believed in her.
And he loved her.
Oh, how he loved her.
I watched it. I felt it. And I admired it.
Here were two people who had accomplished so much individually, yet together they shared something even more meaningful.
Allison seemed to find as much joy in Randy’s accomplishments as he did in his own.
He was her biggest supporter, her encourager, her partner, and her friend.
There is something extraordinarily beautiful about a strong, accomplished man who is completely comfortable celebrating the strength and accomplishments of the woman he loves.
That was Allison.
And that is the Allison I will remember most.
What Really Matters at the End of a Life?
When I think about Allison’s passing, I can’t help but reflect on what really matters when our time on earth comes to an end.
The titles disappear.
The offices are filled by someone else.
The political campaigns become history.
The accomplishments become paragraphs in an obituary.
But the way we loved people?
That is what remains.
Allison leaves behind preserved lands, strengthened communities, lives touched through ministry, and a history of public service that few could match.
But he also leaves behind an example of what it looks like to be a man of character, a man of faith, a patriot, a devoted friend, a businessman, a community activist, and an adoring husband.
He lived life richly and robustly.
He embraced opportunities, took on challenges, pursued his passions, served others, and loved deeply.
And in a world that desperately needs more men like that, his passing leaves an enormous hole.
God, Could You Make a Few More Like Allison?
I have one hope that makes me smile even through the sadness.
When Allison arrived in Heaven, I hope God looked at this remarkable character He had created, smiled, and decided to make a few more just like him to send back down to earth.
Because, ladies and gentlemen, we need more Allisons in this world.
More men with courage. More men with conviction. More men with faith. More men who serve others.
More men who understand that loving the people God places in our lives is perhaps our greatest calling.
To those who never had the privilege of knowing Allison DeFoor, I encourage you to read about his life. Study what he accomplished. Learn about his service. And think about how one person can make an extraordinary difference in this world.
And to my dear friend Randy, my heart is with you.
You had something very special with Allison. A beautiful love story within an extraordinary life.
I know the loss is immeasurable, but I hope the love he gave you will continue to surround you in the days ahead.
Angelo and I send you our love, our prayers, and the biggest hugs imaginable.
Rest in peace, Allison DeFoor.
Thank you for the stories, the friendship, the laughter, the example, and a life so richly and robustly lived.
What a life. What a man. What a legacy.
And most of all, what a beautiful example of love.
