VLS Mourns Alumnus Michael J. Izzo '69
It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of VLS alumnus,
Michael J. Izzo, Jr, '69, at the age of 68. Izzo passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.
Izzo attended St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, NJ where he played baseball and sang in the St. Peter's College Glee Club before graduating in 1966. While at Villanova Law School, Izzo served as a member of the Law Review and was the recent developments editor of the Law Review in 1969. Following law school, he served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. E. Mac Troutman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
He was a senior partner at Cozen O'Connor since 1973, and part of the subrogation litigation division where he argued some of the firm's largest jury verdicts. Izzo settled the largest property damage fire case in the history of the State of New Jersey in the Passaic Fire Litigation and litigated and settled the Long Branch Pier fire that resulted in a massive settlement. One of his proudest professional accomplishments was the favorable opinion in the O'Brien Co-Generation case he presented before the Supreme Court in 2005.
Izzo was a member of the Woodbury Country Club, where he was an avid golfer, and enjoyed playing squash at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Nothing made him happier than singing at the Academy of Music with his friends and fellow members of The Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, the country's oldest male choral group. As a former chairman of the Society of Bacchus, he conveyed his knowledge and appreciation of fine dining.
Izzo is survived by his wife of 41 years, Janet Izzo of West Deptford, NJ, his children, Caren of Philadelphia, Jeannine (Cesar) Caballero of Collingswood, and Michael also of Collingswood, and two grandchildren, Santiago and Elena Caballero.
Izzo was remembered at a mass of Christian burial on December 14, 2012.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Izzo's name to Villanova University School of Law, 299 North Spring Mill Road, Villanova, PA 19085 or to the Leukemia Society & Lymphoma Society of Eastern Pennsylvania, 555 North Lane Suite 5010, Conshohocken, PA 19425. Memories may be shared at www.buddfuneralhome.com.
