Anthony F. DiRuzzo

Anthony F. DiRuzzo of North Providence, born in Providence on Halloween, devoted husband and father passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family at home in his favorite lounge chair on Sunday, November 13, 2016.

He was the beloved husband of Theresa M. (Pezzullo) DiRuzzo for 50 years. He loved dancing with his wife Theresa and traveling together with her.

He loved speaking Italian with daughter Nadina and both were aficionados of World and Roman History. His daughter Anissa will cherish her father’s unwavering love and support. His last trip to Italy in 2009 was with his son Anthony-Joseph and they also shared an interest in air shows and model electric trains. Anthony also enjoyed skiing in Italy, Colorado, Vermont and New Hampshire.

Anthony was a Language Professor at the Community College of Rhode Island for 45 years, and Chairman of the Foreign Language Department at CCRI for 14 years. He was the 1st Professor of Italian at CCRI in 1965 introducing the first basic spoken course in Italian, and he taught both Italian and Spanish. He studied abroad as a Fulbright Scholar and Italian Government Ghislieri Fellowship grantee at the University of Pavia, Italy where he did graduate studies in Romance Linguistics (Filologia Romanza). He received an M.A. from Middlebury College, Vermont and a M.E. from Rhode Island College. He was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and Mount Pleasant High School. He also taught Real Estate Appraisal in the Real Estate Certification program at CCRI and held a Real Estate Broker License. He also taught Italian and Italian Heritage for 6 years at Brown University Extension Division.

He was the first President and Co-Founder of the Rhode Island Teachers of Italian (1970). He was a long-standing member of the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association serving in various offices and committees. He was a Lodge Venerable and Rhode Island State Scholarship Chairman for the Rhode Island Sons of Italy for 15 years and a member of the Verrazzano Day Committee. He served as President of the Board of Directors of the Da Vinci Community Center, Providence and a member of the Board for 30 years.

He served 22 years in the Rhode Island Air National Guard, 143rd squadron, as an Intelligence Specialist and Technical Sergeant Personnel carrier and also was an Education Advisor. He was a Mechanical Design Draftsman for B.I.F. Industries in Providence for 8 years before college. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the RI Civil Air Patrol. He had a Student Pilot License and made solo flights in a Piper J-3.

He leaves his loving wife Theresa and three loving children Anissa, Anthony-Joseph and Nadina. He was the son of the late Adelina (Paris) and Arduino DiRuzzo, brother of Ronald DiRuzzo, Robert DiRuzzo and the late Anna Boschetti, Ida Schanze, Americo DiRuzzo and Gina Aurelio. He also leaves many lifelong friends.

Family and friends are asked to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 10:00 am in St. Rocco Church, 927 Atwood Avenue, Johnston. Burial will be private. Calling hours and flowers are respectfully omitted. www.romanofuneralhome.com.