FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The South Florida community honored the life of well-known entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga at a moving memorial, Thursday morning.
The memorial took place at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The memorial began at 10 a.m. and was open to the public.
Huizenga’s children also spoke at the memorial.
“Our father was kind and generous, reverent and hilarious,” said Huizenga’s daughter, Pamela Huizenga Alexander. “He was sensitive, loving and [a] patient man. Up until his last days, he was a glorious example of humanity, humility and gratitude. His humor evident until the very end.”
“In the Bible, it talks about running the race so as to win a prize,” said H. Wayne Huizenga Jr. “That race is what we call life. And as we heard, he ran that race well. And I know for certainty that when he stood before the Lord in heaven that he heard, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and join our master’s splendor.'”
Friends of Huizenga remembered him fondly.
AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson remembered Huizenga’s presence at his own wedding.
“This photograph was actually taken at my wedding,” Jackson said. “Wayne was my best man. He looks at me and says, ‘You’re a lucky man.’ He turns to my wife Alice and says, ‘Now you’re married I can tell ya, you could have done better.'”
“He was gracious to everybody,” said friend John McWhinney. “He’d pick up a kid over here that had a ball in his hand, and he’d sign the ball, or he’d give his hat away to somebody. He was just that kind of a person who really knew where he came from.”
Huizenga was a self-made billionaire who created Waste Management, Inc., Blockbuster Video and AutoNation.
“It’s very sad. He was an exceptional man, probably the most exceptional man I’ve met in my entire life,” Jackson said.
The business tycoon also became the first man to own teams in three major sports leagues: the Dolphins, Marlins and the Panthers.
“He was just special. He made you feel special. He made you feel that he wanted to be part of the community, organization,” said former Dolphins player Shawn Wooden.
“His legacy is gonna live on for a long time with his family, just the people that know and love him here in the Fort Lauderdale area,” said former Dolphins player Jeff Dellenbach.
Huizenga was known as a generous man. He donated to Nova Southeastern University, the Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity.
Huizenga passed away last Thursday at the age of 80 after a long battle with cancer.
There were about 14,000 people in attendance. Huizenga is survived by his four children.
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