'He was a good friend': Former SNN news anchor, Sarasota Circuit Judge Rick DeFuria dies

Rick DeFuria, a lawyer, former Sarasota County and Circuit judge, professional actor, and SNN news anchor, died Monday after spending time at a memory care unit. He was 75.

The former judge retired from the courtroom in 2013 at the age of 65 after serving more than 15 years on the bench.

He and his life partner of 33 years, Garry Jackson, took the opportunity of his retirement to travel around the globe.

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"We were fortunate to have visited many exotic countries, and I had hoped that we could continue to do so, but our retirement took a very different and unfortunate track," Jackson said Wednesday.

DeFuria was diagnosed with a severe form of dementia and spent time in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, and a memory care unit. His sister, Judy Aarnes, said that dementia runs in the family.

"It's so sad that he left us so early," Aarnes said.

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Originally from New Jersey, DeFuria attended Ithaca College in upstate New York before earning his judicial degree at Stetson Law School in St. Petersburg in 1973.

After serving as a prosecutor, public defender, and private attorney, he was elected to the Sarasota County Court in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984, according to previous Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporting.

Circuit Court Judge Charles Roberts, who knew DeFuria since the mid-1980s, described his good friend as being one of the most well-liked and respected judges in the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Roberts added DeFuria was admired for treating everyone fairly, never raising his voice in court, and being very dedicated to his job.

"His dedication, sense of humor, kind demeanor, and compassion for those appearing in front of him served as a role model to me and many other judges. He was a good friend," Roberts said. "I will miss him greatly, as will the legal community and all those whose lives he touched in positive ways."

Roberts knew that DeFuria's dream was to be an actor and encouraged him to pursue his passion, but added that deep down he'd hoped DeFuria would return to the bench one day.

A 'natural' actor, persistent in getting roles

Aarnes said her brother's passion for acting started at a young age when they lived in Little Falls, NJ. He participated in all the school plays but decided to pursue law as his career.

After six years on the bench, he decided to pursue his dream of acting.

He attended the Florida State University Asolo Conservatory for two years as part of the Class of 1988, where he met his long-time friend Mary Lee Richey.

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"Rick had a passion for life," Richey said in an email. "He was filled with energy, curiosity, and he had a delicious sense of humor. I will miss him madly."

He also met Linda Larsen. The two were the oldest students in the 13-person class and became fast friends, Larsen recalled. At the time, they were about 39 or 40 years old.

"He always looked like the cat that had swallowed the canary, like he was up to something, like a little grin that told me he was thinking of something kind of funny and fun," Larsen said.

While DeFuria was a natural actor, he gained a deeper understanding of theatrics at the conservatory. Larsen added he really loved the process and always came prepared to class.

In January and February of 1988, he played the role of the distant cousin and fiancé Arthur Townsend in "The Heiress," by Ruth and Augustus Goetz.

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During the summer of 1988, DeFuria played Duke Frederick and Duke Senior in William Shakespeare's "As You Like It," and Lyle in Mark Medoff's 1974 play, "When You Comin Back, Red Ryder."

After graduating, DeFuria starred in dozens of industrial films, commercials, and soap operas. His understanding of both the acting and business side of the industry fueled his persistence in getting jobs in New York.

Larsen said her classmate was relentless, but he did it in such an endearing and charming way that people would give him opportunities.

"He loved it with that kind of love where you don't give up, and I think that is what set him apart," she said.

Yet, he couldn't quite shake the pull of the courtroom.

DeFuria landed what he said in a 2012 Herald-Tribune article was his "biggest moment onstage," acting alongside Harrison Ford in the 1990 courtroom thriller, "Presumed Innocent." He portrayed a prosecuting attorney.

"I call Harrison Ford my co-star," DeFuria said in the story. "I'm on screen for about 20 seconds, but it was with him."

Value in a 24-hour local news channel

In 1995, the Herald-Tribune launched SNN News 6, the first 24-hour news channel to be run from a print newsroom in the country, said Diane McFarlin, then executive editor and director of the new broadcast department.

McFarlin said DeFuria's judicial temperament and theatrical training made him the perfect fit to be the lead anchor when he joined the channel.

Frank Verdel, then general manager and news director of SNN, mirrored McFarlin's sentiment — DeFuria was well-known around town, had a wealth of knowledge, and had pizzazz about him.

"Everybody, staff from head-to-toe, just thought he was tremendous fun," Verdel said.

It was also because of DeFuria's grace and authority that helped the fledgling and experimental channel turn into a viable enterprise.

One of McFarlin's memories of her former colleague revolved around the second day of being on air. The first had been plagued with technical issues that hadn't been anticipated, and McFarlin said she was considering pulling the plug.

Sarasota was hit by a relentless storm which caused dangerous flooding across the city. SNN went live to give the community what many now consider run-of-the-mill play-by-play updates. At the time, such a precedent hadn't been set, and it showed viewers the value of a 24-hour local news channel.

At the forefront of the whirlwind was DeFuria's steady presence, McFarlin said, which helped to build "an immediate relationship of trust between him and our viewers."

"Rick was a great colleague. He was funny and self-deprecating, and unfailingly kind. He never took himself too seriously, but dedicated himself fully to taking the job seriously," McFarlin said. "He was discerning about accuracy and fairness — ideal qualities for a judge and for a news anchor."

Verdel said his favorite memory was when DeFuria interviewed Regis Philbin, who was in town at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall promoting his new book.

"I wish you could have just seen the two of them, kind of going at it if you will," Verdel said. "It was quite a show in terms of questions (going) back and forth."

Returning to the bench one last time

After a year at SNN, DeFuria again donned the black robes and focused on the bench. In 2003, he started his final 10-year track as a 12th Judicial Circuit Judge.

Over the course of his last decade in the courthouse, DeFuria oversaw high-profile cases including the murder of two British tourists in downtown Sarasota in 2012.

While many recalled DeFuria's whimsical sense of humor and creativity, Larsen said he was very grounded in the courtroom with a no-nonsense demeanor and brought the same level of preparedness he'd had as a student at the conservatory.

Yet, he still had moments of humor in the court, his sister said.

Aarnes shared that one day she went to visit her brother in court to see him in action. When she entered the room, her brother called out to the bailiff, 'Watch out for that lady,' causing everyone to stare at her as he burst out laughing, informing them that she was his sister.

After retiring on July 31, 2013, DeFuria did what many do after working for decades, he enjoyed his free time vacationing and relaxing with his partner.

The last time Larsen saw DeFuria was at Plymouth Harbor, a retirement community in Sarasota. He was talkative, she recalled, and it felt like old times as she, her husband, DeFuria and Jackson talked and ate the cookies.

He is survived by his partner, Jackson; his sister, Judy Aarnes, and her husband, Rick Aarnes, of Parrish; and his younger sister, Sandy Bargiel, and her husband, Gary Bargiel, of Surf City, NJ, as well as six nieces and nephews, and six grand nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Frederick A. De Furia Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. A funeral service is not planned, however,  a memorial service may take place at a later date.

Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Former actor, SNN anchor, Sarasota Judge Rick DeFuria dies