Goodbye, John

John Loscalzo—a.k.a Homer Fink, the King of Brooklyn Heights, the CEO of the Brooklyn Heights Blog—passed away yesterday.

John started the blog in 2006 when he was new to the neighborhood—he brought a reporter’s integrity to the site along with a devilish wit and insatiable curiosity about both the beautiful and the quirky of Brooklyn Heights. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the spirit of this neighborhood will be so much different without him.

At the time of his passing, John was the Director of Music for CBS Local, and had previously worked for MTV and radio stations like WNYU and K-Rock.

John leaves behind the two loves of his life—his wife, Tracy Zamot, and their daughter, Gracie. He also leaves behind a million friends and fans who will miss his goofy camera grin; his brilliant ideas; his encyclopedic knowledge of music; and the Homer Fink Hidden Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour.

It’s not like me to be at a loss for words, but this is all I can really say right now. Please share your thoughts and remembrances below, and I will post additional information when I hear.

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  • Andrew Porter

    Another obituary has been posted, on the New York Observer’s site, here:

    http://observer.com/2015/04/john-loscalzo-the-best-kind-of-neighborhood-blogger/

  • NeighboorHood

    Shocked and saddened for his family, and our community in general, which is lessened by his untimely passing. What he created in this Blog was/is a rare and valuable forum for real grass roots involvement, and a force for good in our beloved Brooklyn. While we never met, my sincere condolences to his family and friends. – James

  • whodiditandran

    AEB, it occurred to me that you and I may never have become friends had it not been for this site. Yet another thing to thank John for, as well as for my introductions to others like Karl and Claude and TK and the BHB crew.

  • AEB

    Yes, absolutely; and being next-to neighbors–though, unfortunately, we never took sufficient advantage of that, he says with hindsight.

  • http://lyndanaclerio.tumblr.com LyndaN42

    I’m shocked. Loscalzo was the greatest voice on my radio in the ’90s, I would fax him thing like details of my first car accident and he would give me Mortal Kombat fatality hints. I followed him like the sycophant I am to this great news page because he made Brooklyn Heights fascinating to me. I always hoped to take his walking tour one day. This is terrible news, and my heart breaks for Mrs. Fink and little Gracie, who I know will grow up treasuring all the recordings of her wonderful father, as we all will.

    Esh, my long-distance friend. There is no way anyone could ever forget you.

  • Justine Swartz

    John Loscalzo was a wonderful, caring,
    intelligent man. It’s a damn shame he died. My condolences to his family.

  • petercow

    Ugh. This really sucks. I am saddened, and Brooklyn Heights is diminished.

    John gave me my first online-break, when he asked me to write for BHB.

    He had a distinctive voice, which he gave to the blog.

    Condolences to all who cared for him.

  • http://ScoutIt.Me/ Cabbie

    I met John when I moved to NYC to work at K-Rock in 2000. He is /was one of the very few nice guys in a really cruddy and scummy business (radio)… Charming, whitty, and always there with a kind word and big smile. The world lost one of the good ones. Deepest condolences to his wife and daughter. . Rest Easy Big Man….

  • William Spier

    I remember John coming to our garden at Poplar Street and looking in wonder at what we accomplished in this “hidden garden.” His words meant more to me than any other compliment given to our efforts. I will think of him as I plant more than 300 new flowers, shrubs and trees this spring.

  • melanie d. raney

    Hi==New Yorker is spirit, I just finished reading that this pretty cool guy had passed BUT: WHAT OF? Just a small hint?? Thanks=

  • ShinyNewHandle

    It were the Disqus riffraffs what kilt ‘im :(