John Victor (Vic) Lutz, of Arlington, Virginia, died on March 22, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born on August 1, 1944 in Washington, D.C. and lived in Virginia his entire life. He was the son of John William Lutz and Marcelle Decatur and stepson of Rudolph Decatur. Vic graduated from Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA in 1962; received a B.S. in International Affairs in 1966 from Georgetown University; and a M.A. in Government from American University in 1968.

Vic spent his life working in education as a teacher and later as a secondary high school principal. He accepted his first teaching job in 1971 at Langley High School in Fairfax, VA; where he taught History, Government and Social Studies. After three years of teaching, Vic entered the Administrative Intern Program through UVA and interned under Rodney Taylor, principal at Fort Hunt High School, who recognized the gift Vic had working with students and staff. Vic and Rodney developed a lifelong friendship which endured long after both had retired. In 1973, he moved to Groveton High School and finished his intern program as an administrative aide under Groveton's principal Doris Torrice. Doris and he also became good friends and maintained a lifelong friendship. Later that year, Doris accepted the principal position at Hayfield Secondary and hired Vic as the sub-school principal of 7 ^th and 8 ^th grades. In 1982, he accepted his first principalship at Bryant Intermediate School, Thoreau Middle School in 1985 and then the highlight of his career, Hayfield Secondary school in Alexandria, VA from 1986 - 1996. He was a lifetime member of the Virginia Education Association (VEA) and maintained membership in the Fairfax County Education Association (FCEA) and Fairfax County Retired Education (FCRE).

Educating and working with youth, especially teenagers, was what Vic loved the most. He believed every single child deserved both an education and to have excellent role models who would challenge and encourage them to develop to their full potential. He integrated these values very carefully through his hiring decisions of administrators, teachers and coaches. Vic believed anyone he hired, must be first and foremost a teacher and a mentor, if they couldn't be both he wasn't interested. It was during his time at Hayfield that really defined who he was as a school administrator and educator. Vic was devoted to the Hayfield community and regularly met with parents to discuss not just their students' needs but their needs to better support their children. He believed it was his job to ensure that the Hayfield community knew it was their school, not his. He prided himself on knowing the names of the majority of every single student attending his schools. After 35 years working for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), he retired in 1996 and spent several years supporting FCPS Employee Services and Human Resources by serving as interim principal throughout the county as needed and mentoring the next generation of academic leadership. Vic left a void in the community when he retired. He made such an impression on the students and parents of Hayfield; they named the football stadium the J. Victor Lutz Stadium. Throughout his entire life, Vic developed his reputation as a fair, honest, and good man. He made lifelong friendships through his work that helped shape who he was. The stadium naming was an honor that Vic cherished until the day he passed.

Vic was a "gym-rat" and faithfully exercised every day. He loved to cycle when he was younger and swim when he was older. For much of his retired life, he and his close friends would travel every year to the Piney Apple golf course and play a round of golf, laughing and telling stories.

Vic was always interested in others, their opinions, and insights. He was heartfelt and genuine. At many times, his worries were typically rooted in his concern for others or for how he felt others should be treated. Vic spent his life mentoring others and ensuring those he interacted with felt respected and special.

Vic met his wife, Donna, when he was 18 years old, and she was 16 years old on a blind date. They married in 1967 and were married for 56 terrific years of love, laughter and always being together with family and friends. In 1971, Vic and Donna welcomed their first child, David into their lives. In 1973, their second child, Heather, was born and in 1977, their third child, Susan arrived. Vic loved being a father. Vic and Donna spent every summer vacationing at the Outer Banks, NC and eventually purchased their own beach house, A Wave from it All. This home was Vic's escape from hectic Northern Virginia life. It served as an oasis for the family to relax and entertain friends. Vic and Donna also enjoyed family trips and traveled to Hawaii, Europe, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with their kids and grandkids. They took several river cruises in Europe and trips with friends.

Vic held a deep love for his grandchildren. They were his life, and he took the time to develop a special relationship with each one, calling and texting them weekly – asking them about their studies, their friends, and their activities. It was his greatest joy to attend their sports games – lacrosse, basketball, soccer, field hockey, track and field, baseball, theatre plays, chorus concerts, and gymnastics meets in which his grandchildren participated. Attending these events was how he chose to spend his days.

Vic is survived by his wife, Donna; three children, David (Beth), Heather (Jeff), and Susan (Eric) and his grandchildren Hope, Matthew, Katherine, Lauren, Hannah, Kyle, and Brayden. He is also survived by his cousin Marie Henry, Ray Lutz, and many close friends and former co-workers that all meant the world to him.

He is preceded in death by his father, John William Lutz, his mother, Marcelle Decatur, his stepfather, Rudolph Decatur and his brother, Rudy Decatur, Jr.

Family will receive friends on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE.., Leesburg, VA  20176. Graveside services will be private

Parking

Parking at Colonial Funeral Home is limited. Please consider parking at the nearby parking garage across from the Government Center and other nearby small lots.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution in Vic's name to:

Prostate Cancer Foundation

Santa Monica, CA 90401

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Tax ID is #95-4418411.

The Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital Lights of Love

PO Box 6115

Leesburg, VA 20178

Capital Caring Health of Falls Church (Hospice)

3180 Fairview Park Drive

Suite 500

Falls Church, VA 22041