Veteran Florida state legislator Joe Casello died late Friday, July 18, after suffering a massive heart attack earlier in the month.
The 73-year-old Democrat had represented Florida House District 90, an area of Palm Beach County including Boynton Beach, since 2018.
“We are so sorry to say that Representative Joe Casello has passed away surrounded by his loving family and girlfriend, following a heart attack,” the Florida House Democratic Caucus said in a social media post announcing his death. “The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who have offered their love and support during this difficult time.”
Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, said he would be “deeply missed.”
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Remembering Rep. Joe Casello
A private ceremony will be held in the family’s home state of Massachusetts, the caucus said, and a public memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks.
Casello was a firefighter for 33 years in Worcester, Massachusetts, before moving to Palm Beach County. His first entry into politics was in 2013, when he became a city commissioner in Boynton Beach. Last November, he was reelected to a fourth term in the state House by a double-digit margin. He had filed papers to run for the Palm Beach County Commission in November 2026.
Gov. Ron DeSantis will need to call a special election to fill Casello’s seat, according to Florida state law.
Casello was taken off life support the morning of July 18, after he was taken to regional hospital about two weeks ago after complaining of chest pains, the Palm Beach Post reported.
State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, was a close friend, and told the Palm Beach Post he and his wife visited Casello for about half an hour July 17.
“He was very lucid,” Caruso said. “I asked him if there was anything I could do for him. He said: ‘See if you could get a fire truck named after me.'”
“My life has always been about public service and meeting the needs of my community,” Casello said in a statement released July 17, a day before his passing. “Serving as both a firefighter for 33 years and an elected official for 13 years has been the greatest honor of my life. Representing the people — through times of unity and division, triumph and challenge — has been a privilege I will always cherish.”
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida state representative Joe Casello dies after heart attack
