Joseph Michael RIZZA
Obituary

Joseph Michael Rizza, MD went on his final journey on July 5, 2017 in Bellevue, WA while suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He was calm, happy, and at peace, joking until the very end, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born on June 13, 1936 in New Britain CT. He was the first of five children and was big brother to Joan Ellison (Bruce) of Unionville CT, Jim Rizza (Sandy) of Phoenix, AZ, Paul Rizza (Carolyn) of Grove City, PA, and Peggy Ellsberg of Ossining, NY. The stories they could tell you about Joe - from "letting one rip" under the covers and yelling "Monster!" so everyone would dive under the blankets and be trapped listening to his laugh to being the guiding voice for them in times of need. Joe met the love of his life, Beatrice Campbell Rizza, at the University of Connecticut. They married in 1963 and moved to Germany where their first daughter, Michele, was born. When they returned to the US for his residency at Yale, their second daughter, Suzy, was born and three years later, a son, Eric. They made their life and raised their children in Helena, Montana. Joe worked as a pathologist at St Peter's Hospital from 1972 until his retirement in 1995 with stints in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. Joe chose the field of pathology because he said that no day was ever the same. Life for Joe was one big adventure, driven mainly by intellectual curiosity. He strived to have as many unique experiences as possible - through food, travel, outdoor adventures, work in exotic locations, and his friendships. He loved hopping in the car with Bea and traveling around the country and jet setting around the world. His favorite places were Montana and Wyoming - the more remote, the better. He was a passionate photographer and was continually striving for that perfect shot. He taught his children a respect and appreciation for the outdoors and took them hiking, rafting, fishing, skiing, and driving around back roads looking for birds at ungodly hours of the morning. But most importantly, he taught his family to be kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and to always leave things better than we found them. And the world is in a much better place because he was here. Joe lived and died on his own terms. He will be terribly and forever missed. He was preceded in death by his father, Michael Rizza and his mother, Arline Rizza. He is survived by his wife, Bea, of Mercer Island, WA, all of his siblings, his children, Michele Rizza (Jack Bryan) and their children Carson and Simone Bryan on Bainbridge Island WA, his daughter Suzy Rizza (Tim O'Leary) and their children Luke and Colin O'Leary in Missoula MT, his son Eric Rizza (Meredith Cataldo) and his children Julian and Sawyer on Mercer Island WA and a handful of nieces and nephews. The family will hold a private service at a later time. In lieu of gifts and flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Associationin memory of Joseph Michael Rizza at www.alz.org.

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