Robert Rizzon

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Roberto Palmiro Sebastiano Rizzon on January 26, 2015. He died surrounded by loving family members while his favorite Italian Arias and I Canti Degli Alpini played softly in the background. 

Roberto was born to Italian immigrant parents in North Castle New York on May 12, 1925. Over the years, he shared magical memories of his childhood spent on Needham Avenue in the Bronx. He fondly recalled rabbit hunting with his father in the vacant lot across from his apartment, playing stickball, sneaking glimpses of Babe Ruth and Lou Gerrick at Yankee Stadium, and drifting to sleep out on the fire escape on hot summer nights as the adults talked quietly around him. 

In his teen years, he moved to a farmhouse in South Bound Brook, New Jersey where he spent many happy years with his family. After graduating Robert Morris High School, he served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946.   He was deployed to North Africa, Italy and the Philippines. After completing his tour, he returned to the United States and earned a degree in History, Political Science, and Economics from Rutger’s University.  During that time he had the good fortune to meet and fall in love with a lovely young nurse, Dorothy Tkacik, whom he later married.  Together, they started their life in South Bound Brook New Jersey and continued to care for their aging parents as they started their own family.  In 1959, following a dream they shared together, he and his wife purchased an old farmhouse and moved their young family to Vermont.

This began a new Chapter.  In 1960, in the farmhouse, Roberto delivered his fourth child.  This was a great source of pride for him.  His four children have wonderful memories of their childhood in Vermont: picking apples from the orchard, skating on the pond, riding in the pony cart, taking Sunday rides, swimming at Cole Bridge, listening for the first peepers of the year, debating philosophy and politics around the dinner table, and searching for the perfect Christmas tree.  Summer always brought the highly anticipated arrival of grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and the house was filled with even more love and laughter. Perhaps Roberto’s greatest gift to his children was that he felt each one was unique and each one had a special place in his heart. For the remainder of his life, Roberto often remarked that those days on that hill in Pawlet were the best years of his life. 

In his later years, he relocated to the Adirondacks, married Beverly Drake and dedicated the rest of his life caring for her fragile health until his own health prevented him from doing so. He was very fortunate in his time there, that he found good friends.  He had a special place in his heart for Lee, Gigi and Marilyn whose kindness was appreciated when he needed additional support. 

He was truly a Renaissance man.  He loved traveling, literature, art and music.  He was a builder, teacher, farmer, gallery owner, and columnist.  He was a person who loved learning for the sake of learning and his quest for knowledge and solutions to world problems never ceased. 

Roberto fully embraced life. He believed in the capacity of the human spirit to triumph against all odds.  His faith in mankind never wavered. 

Roberto loved his family above all else. He was predeceased by his parents Maria and Sebastiano, Brother Bruno and sister Marguerite. He is survived by his two Sisters, Mary Rizzon Spinabelli and Anna Rizzon Wilson; his four Children, Amy  Rizzon Levasseur, Chris Rizzon, Beth Rizzon and Sally Rizzon McGarry; his Grandchildren, Bianca MacDonald, Orville Vanderpool, Jay Levasseur, Andre Levasseur, A.J Helgenberg, Sebastian Rizzon, Rory McGarry and Curran McGarry and his Great Grandchildren, Amelia, Lila, Sailor, Maya, Callen, Hazel , Trysten and Caleb.

Dad, we will meet again on Col Dei Prai. Together, we will listen to the church bells as they ring through the valley of Cismon Del Grappa on a Sunday morning.

Dolci Sogni Caro Roberto 

A Celebration of Roberto’s Life will be held in Pawlet, Vermont on May 12, 2015