Anthony Gerald Rizzieri

Jerry passed away peacefully at his home in Charlotte on Easter Sunday, April 9th, 2023 with his three sons at his side.

Born in Seneca Falls, NY in 1938, Jerry was the son of Alessandro and Mary Rizzieri. He and his wife, Colleen, lived in Geneva for over forty years. In 2005, he and Colleen moved to Charlotte, NC where they lived for the past 18 years.

Jerry graduated from Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls in 1956. He was an avid athlete and loved team sports. He often liked to remind his sons that he was a proud member of renowned and undefeated Mynderse High football teams. During those school years, he met Colleen. They married in 1958 and celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this past October.

After graduating from high school, Jerry first worked as a cook at Willard Hospital in Ovid, NY. He continued his education at the University of Rochester School of Radiography and then worked as an X-Ray technician at Geneva General Hospital, ultimately becoming Director of Radiology. He finished his career in the same role at Newark Hospital before his retirement in 1995. Outside work, Jerry was active with the Knights of Columbus and also served as Commissioner of the Geneva Junior Football League. However, he took greatest joy in watching his sons play sports in both high school and college and would seldom miss a game – even when it meant traveling to Princeton, NJ or South Bend, IN.

Jerry and Colleen loved to travel. During their retirement years, they embarked on yearly adventures, including travel to Africa, South America, Russia and most of Europe. “Forty-eight” was how he’d respond when asked how many countries he had visited. With Colleen, he also enjoyed annual trips to New York City, Washington, D.C. or Kennebunkport, Maine in order to spend time with his sons and their families.

When he wasn’t planning a trip, he kept busy around the house. Jerry was always quite handy with tools and always had a project in progress or planned. But on Saturdays and Sundays in the Fall, he would look forward to watching Notre Dame or the Buffalo Bills.

Jerry adored his grandchildren. He always looked forward to visiting with them or hearing about school, various sporting events, recitals, performances or just about anything else. He also stayed close with a great number of friends with whom he established close friendships over the years from Seneca Falls, Geneva, and Charlotte – friends like Gabe Lombardo, his lifelong best friend, who stopped in to see him to reminisce during Jerry’s final days.

Jerry was predeceased by his wife, Colleen, who passed away on January 1st of this year; by his parents; his daughter, Lynne Louise; sisters, Florence, Mary, Rosalie, and Anna; and brothers, Joseph, Angelo, and Patrick.

He is survived by his three sons, Gerald (Melissa) of New York, N.Y., Todd (Nicole) of Charlotte, N.C., and Mark (Leigh Ann) of Alexandria, VA. Jerry is also survived by his five grandchildren, Alexandra Miller (Ethan) and Nicholas (Ana) of Charlotte, N.C.; Sophie and Violet both of New York, N.Y.; and Payton of Alexandria, VA. He is also survived by his brother, Louis and his wife Barbara of Seneca Falls, NY; sister-in-law, Ana of Albuquerque, NM; and sister-in-law, Dail Bevins of Toronto; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Jerry was a current member of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte and formerly a parishioner at St. Francis DeSales in Geneva. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the team at Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte for their wonderful care of Jerry during the past three months.

A service and burial for Jerry and his wife Colleen with be scheduled at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Geneva, alongside their daughter, Lynne.

Contributions in his memory can be made to Charlotte Hospice and Palliative Care, 7845 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28226 (www.hpccr.org).

Fond memories and condolences may be placed at: www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com