It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of John Fugate Jr. on March 2, 2025 at the age of 51.  John was born on the 25th of February, 1974 outside of Niagara Falls, New York and graduated from Niagara Wheatfield Senior High School in 1992. He went on to study Automotive Service at both Erie County Community College and Alfred State College and then received an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, New York in 1998.

After his studies were complete, John moved to Pinellas County, Florida and graduated from the police recruit class #136 before starting his career with the St. Petersburg Police Department, where he served in the years of 2000-2001. Officer Fugate then continued his career with the Kenneth City Police Department until his retirement in February of 2018. As a Corporal, he supervised the Field Training Program, High Liability Training, and the School Crossing Guard Program.  Officer Fugate was a certified high liability police instructor in Firearms, Less Lethal Weapons, Taser, and Active Shooter. He was also trained in Child Abuse Investigations, Sex Crime Investigations, and Crisis Intervention.  After retirement from Kenneth City, Officer Fugate joined the Pinellas County Schools Police in July 2018 after realizing he wanted to protect and make a difference in children’s lives through teaching and mentoring. He served in that role until his untimely passing last week.

On March 17, 2023, John got down on one knee and asked his best friend Tara (Pearson) Noble for her hand in marriage, to which she very happily accepted.  They were married a year later, on March 23 of 2024 on a beautiful, sunny day at the Land ‘O Lakes FOP lodge officiated by his best fishing and hunting friend Rod Martin. 

In addition to serving through his police work, John also loved to give back to the community through various charities and events.  One of his favorites was the Buck Daze Charity Deer Hunt, a two day guided hunt that raises funds benefitting the students of the Southwest Georgia Academy along with hosting a charity poker run raising money for one of his local schools he was so fond of Nina Harris School in Pinellas Park.

John liked to spend his time outside of work in nature.  He was an avid outdoorsman, traveling around Florida and the southeast for various hunting expeditions and freshwater bass fishing tournaments. 

John had been a member of Clearwater Bass Club later becoming Clearwater Senior Bass club taking on many achievements such as taking Angler of the year in 2013-2014. Sportsmen of the year 2012-2013. He was Secretary/Treasurer for his club during some of those years. Also John received numerous bass fishing awards including St. Pete Pro Bass Big Fish on Lake Kissimmee, Big Fish Lake Hernando, Lake Toho, St. Johns River, Floral City, North Winter Haven, Lake Henderson, South Winter Haven, Lake Tarpon, June In Winter and Big Fish on Crooked Lake. John took several First place awards on the lakes mentioned.

Recently he was a member of the Lakeland Bassmasters fishing club.

and enjoyed various shooting, archery and bow sports as well.

John is survived by his wife, Tara Fugate of Holiday, his mother, Kathleen Fugate of St. Petersburg, and his older brother Matthew Fugate and sister in law Karen of Niagara Falls with two sons Allen and John. 

John’s in-laws considered John as their son and such a blessing along with her cousins, Aunts, Uncles and friends who knew them together.  

A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Largo FOP Lodge on Saturday, March 15th from 1-4PM.  As John loved finding joy in this life and sharing it with others, we ask you to do the same – go out and do something that brings you real joy and share it with those around you.