Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday for Jackie Loto, a Tampa native who founded her own dance studio more than 40 years ago and played an important role in local Gasparilla and Super Bowl galas.
Loto died Saturday after battling cancer for two years. She was 68.
The funeral will be at JGR Funeral Home chapel, 6718 N. Armenia Ave., with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel.
Flowers will be accepted, or donations may be made to Miss Jackie' s Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1520, Land O' Lakes FL 34639-1520, in memory of Jackie Loto.
In 1959, Loto founded Jackie's Dance Studio and Jazz Center in Tampa. Through the years, she taught hundreds of children and adults to dance.
Loto also choreographed local performances of productions such as "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Guys and Dolls." She helped with numerous quinceaƱeras coming-of-age celebrations for Hispanic girls turning 15.
A talented seamstress, Loto helped with costumes for the 1991 Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa and organized many charitable fashion shows.
Loto also raised two children with her husband of 49 years, Joseph.
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