Richard S. Mazzella

On Monday, January 12, 2026, Richard (born Riccardo) Salvatore Mazzella, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the age of 85 from sarcoma cancer in Detroit, Michigan. Richard was born on April 19, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, to Amedeo Giovanni Mazzella and Assunta Sandolo. He grew up in Detroit and loved taking the streetcar down Gratiot to baseball games with his older brother Bob. Rich loved playing sports and was very athletic. He grew up playing baseball every day in the summer. He also liked working on cars and fixing them with his buddies. At age 17, he started playing hockey and played until October 3, 2025, where he got to play with his 3 sons and grandson and even scored a goal in his last game. He received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Wayne State University and worked at Ford Motor Company for almost 30 years, retiring on January 1, 2000.

On June 27, 1964, he married the love of his life, Kathleen Ann Manzo. They raised three children, Gary, Brian, and Kevin. He was always happiest when on the ice. One of his favorite stages of life was coaching kids in baseball and hockey, “wouldn’t give up those days for anything” he always said. Family was always important to him. Rich knew everything about everything. His sons and grandchildren would frequently come to him with questions about home improvement projects, investment advice, gardening and canning, and help with their cars, which never changed as he grew older. He always had a sharp mind and was always family-focused. Rich and Kathy loved to grow gardens at their house as well as their cottage in Lexington, Michigan. This was a family tradition, to plant and grow the garden every year from Memorial Day through Labor Day and beyond, including canning tomatoes and freezing vegetables.

Rich was preceded in death by his father, Amedeo Mazzella; mother, Assunta Sandolo; father-in-law Giuseppe (Joseph) Manzo; and brothers, Desiderio (Dennis) Mazzella and Roberto (Bob) Mazzella Sr., and sister-in-law Nancy (Webster) Mazzella. He is survived by his wife Kathy, children Gary (Stephanie Mazzella), Brian (Kendel Mazzella), and Kevin (Gina Mazzella), and his six grandchildren Megan Mazzella (Chandan Prasad), Brandi (Michael Ameye), Molly Mazzella, Nicholas (Angela Mazzella), Sydney Mazzella, and Colin Mazzella, and one great-grandchild Arthur Mazzella-Prasad, and his nephews.

Visitation will be held at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Township, MI 48038, on Monday, January 19, 2026, from 2-8 PM, with a rosary service at 7 PM. On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, an in-state gathering will be held at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, 48115 Schoenherr Road, Michigan, MI 48315, beginning at 9:30 AM, with a funeral mass at 10 AM. Final entombment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan.