Richard “Richie” Matarazzo 54, an Auto Parts Manager of Melbourne, Florida passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019 at home. He was born in East Hanover, NJ and moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1978 with his family.
Survivors include his daughter; Samantha of Melbourne, mother; Pat of Melbourne, sisters; Trish and Dianne (Chip) Wiebe, and brothers; Carmine (Terri), and Danny (Janet), all of Melbourne, nieces and nephews; Carmine (Taylor), Ryan, Michelle (Bryce), Devin and Sunnie and great nephews; Carmine and Carson along with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Richie was predeceased in death by his father Carmine.
Richie graduated from Eau Gallie High School in 1983 and attended Brevard Community College. After working the restaurant industry during high school in 1983 his father opened Sonny’s Auto Supply, Inc. and Richie went to work there as a counterman. He continued running Sonny’s Auto Supply with his brother Carmine until they sold the business to NAPA in 2016 and remained working in the business.
In 1998 he welcomed his only daughter Samantha, whom he treasured. He was a devoted father to Sam enjoying her hobbies and spending time with her as she was his everything. He loved sharing stories of Sam and you could always see the love he had for her in that huge smile. Richie was friends with everyone, never meeting a stranger and was known for always helping others. Those who knew him well knew him as Pear (Pearhead) a nickname he acquired in high school that stuck with him to this day.
Richie had many hobbies over the years, enjoying team sports in school, water skiing, country music and even hunting for a time. He loved his sports and was an avid NASCAR fan, loved college football and especially the Gators, enjoyed the Bucs in the good and bad days and cheered on the Boston Red Sox since childhood. He equally enjoyed razzing his friends who rooted for the opposing teams.
Beyond the playing field, family was everything to him, living next door to his brother Carmine and on the same street as his sisters, Trish, Dianne and families. He continually was there for his family, with his weekly trips taking his mother to visit his father at the cemetery, manning the grill for the annual Christmas fish dinner, grilling the lobster and at Thanksgiving making his famous stuffing balls. He cherished family time, joining his many friends at Beef’s and the local restaurants, where he turned servers into friends and always enjoyed making people laugh.
Richie was one of a kind and enjoyed each day to the fullest and will be missed by everyone but never forgotten.
A visitation will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 from 9-11am at the Faith Viera Lutheran Church, 5550 Faith Drive, Rockledge, FL 32955. A service will be at 11am at the church with interment to follow in Florida Memorial Gardens. After interment, friends are kindly invited to F.O.P. Lodge, 1049 Julia Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935 for a time of fellowship and refreshments.
Donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 or to any local fire department.
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