Anthony F. Rizzetta

Anthony Francis Rizzetta, recently of Rumson and formerly of Ridgefield, N.J., died at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, N.J., on April 25, 2017. Mr. Rizzetta passed away peacefully before visiting hours began because, as he put it, he “never wanted to be a burden on anyone.” He was 90 years old.

Mr. Rizzetta was born in New York City and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. He played minor league baseball with clubs in Virginia, Alabama and Connecticut, but his life was forever changed when he sold Regina Borrelli a Christmas tree in 1946. The couple married in 1948 and raised three sons in Ridgefield, where they lived until Mrs. Rizzetta passed away last summer. Mr. Rizzetta, who proudly coached his sons and their friends for many years in Ridgefield Little League, had a long and storied career at Hudson County News, which he left as a senior vice president in 1988; by all accounts, his only regret in life was retiring as “early” as he did.

Mr. Rizzetta is survived by his three sons: Richard and his wife Bonnie, of Rumson, N.J.; Anthony and his wife Gerri, of Galloway Township, N.J.; and Stephen Sr., of Missouri. He also leaves his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Ellie Rizzetta, and their wonderful family in South Carolina, as well as numerous friends, cousins, former colleagues, Oak Street neighbors, the folks at Café Tivoli, and the second love of his life, the New York Yankees.

Mr. Rizzetta is also survived by four grandchildren — Kelly, Stephen Jr., Stacy and Christina — who will be telling (and retelling) his jokes and stories until they are grandparents themselves.

Services were private and arranged through the John E. Day Funeral Home, of Red Bank, N.J. and Holy Cross Church, of Rumson, N.J. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice. Two of Mr. Rizzetta’s favorites were the National Geographic Society and Operation Smile.
Please visit Anthony’s memorial website available at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.


 

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