George Rizzo

George Paul Rizzo was born in the Bronx, NY on August 28, 1935 to George Rizzo and Stella Boccalino Rizzo. The youngest of four children, he grew up on Long Island in Valley Stream, NY. He graduated from Valley Stream Central High School in 1953 and served in the US Army.

George is survived by his wife, Barbara Watkins Rizzo, of Roswell, and by his daughter, Michele M. Heyman and her husband Aaron, of Cedar Crest. NM; and by his son George Paul Rizzo, Jr and his fiancé Serena Roybal, who live in Albuquerque. Surviving are grandchildren Taylor Gonzales of Albuquerque; Jeffrey W Hughes and CaraShea Hughes of Fort Collins, CO and Samuel Heyman and Zachariah Heyman of Albuquerque. George is also survived by his sisters Concetta Smalley of Smithtown, NY and Veronica Kelly of Kalamazoo, MI and sister-in-law Gayleen Rollins of Plainwell, MI and by his brothers-in-law Brad Watkins of Magnolia, TX and Stan Watkins and wife Rozetta of Phoenix, AZ and by many nieces and nephews and his first wife, Rose. His parents preceded him in death, as did his first child, Donna Marie Rizzo; and step son Jeffrey W. Hughes; and by his brother John Rizzo of Plainwell, MI.

George was self-employed in Valley Stream NY before moving his family to Albuquerque, NM in 1970. He was employed by Horizon Corporation as a building supervisor before starting his own home building Construction Company in Paradise Hills, NM. He married Barbara W. Hughes in 1977. He retired from the home building business in 1982 and moved to Ruidoso, NM where he became a real estate appraiser, achieving the distinction of Senior Residential Appraiser. He and Barbara worked together in their appraisal business in Alamogordo and Ruidoso until 1998.
While in Ruidoso, George assisted the Episcopal Church as building supervisor on the addition to their sanctuary. He served on the Vestry of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Mount. He served as Chairman of the Building Committee for the Community United Methodist Church in Ruidoso, supervising the planning and construction of the "Warehouse" - a community recreation building sponsored by the Methodist Church.
George and Barbara enjoyed many diverse activities ranging from RV camping and stream fishing all around northern New Mexico to ballroom dancing in Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. They shared many artistic endeavors together. George discovered a talent for sculpting in marble and clay, and also making cut stone mosaic paintings while supporting Barbara's interest in watercolor and oil painting. He became an accomplished wine maker in Ruidoso and taught several wine lovers the art of making their own wines. He has more recently enjoyed making clay ceramics at RMAC. Both George and Barbara were in the Community choir in Ruidoso and several times performed ballroom dance numbers during the choir concerts at the Spencer Theater. George was a Hospice Volunteer in Ruidoso. They moved to Roswell in 2008 to care for Barbara's parents, Brad and Marideth Watkins. They have been active in die First United Methodist Church of Roswell, NM, singing in the Chancel Choir and in Silver Chords. George has served as a Trustee of the Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Roswell Humane Society, 703 E. McGaffey, Roswell, NM 88203 or to the Music Dept. of the First United Methodist Church at 200 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Roswell, 88201.

The family thanks the team of Gentiva Hospice and our nurse Frances Olivas for the loving care of George the past 3 months.

A memorial service honoring George's memory will be held at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 2 pm.

Service

First United Methodist Church
200 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Roswell, NM  88201
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
2:00 pm

Cemetery

Ballard Crematory
910 S. Main Street
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

Roswell Humane Society
703 E. McGaffy St.
Roswell, NM  88201

First United Methodist Church Music Department
200 N. Pennsylvannia
Roswell, NM  88201