John A. Rizzo (1949-2020)

​John A. Rizzo, 71, of Hummelstown passed away on October 29th, 2020 in the presence of his family.  Born on April 1st, 1949 in Hershey, he was the eldest child of the late Arthur and Marion (Colangelo) Rizzo.  John was a loving husband, father, brother, Popsie, coach and friend to so many people in the community and will be missed dearly.
John was a 1967 graduate of Hershey High School and excelled in both football and baseball.  He spent a lifetime watching, teaching and coaching youth sports, and guided many young men and women to be the best they could be, including his four grandsons Anthony, Trenton, Joseph and Nicholas.  John retired from The Hershey Company in 2001 after 28 years of service, and served later as a contractor supporting multiple departments.  He built many friendships during his time at the 19 East Plant, West Hershey, and Reese facilities and spoke about those friends often.  While family was his first priority, his friend network was a close second.  The comradery that he developed with his high school teammates continued in his life for years to come.  The stories from playing baseball, softball and golf were endless and always led to laughter.  To all of the friends that are still with us today, and to those that have been lost, thank you for the great memories.
Surviving are his wife of 38 years, and the love of his life, Sherri (Paine) Rizzo; son Mike (Kimberly) Rizzo; daughter Julie Rizzo; grandsons Anthony and Nicholas Rizzo, and Trenton and Joseph Matter; brother Jim (Judy) Rizzo; sister Joyce Rizzo (Ron Freda); mother-in-law Jeanne (Orsini) Paine; brother-in-law Dan Paine and many cousins, nieces and nephews both by blood and those “adopted” through his friendships.  He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Phil Paine, sister-in-law Charlotte Paine and brother-in-law Jeff Paine.
The family would like to thank Dr. Frank Battista and Dr. Morie Gertz for their constant advice and counseling over the past 24 years.  We would also like to thank the many doctors and staff at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN who worked tirelessly to improve John’s health and wellness.  And a special thank you to the many nurses who brought daily conversation and bedside care when he needed it most.
Due to restrictions concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, a private service will be held for the family at St. Joan of Arc Church, Hershey with interment at the Hummelstown Cemetery.  A celebration of John’s life will be announced, at a later date once restrictions have been lifted for large gatherings, to allow for the large number of family and friends to pay their respects.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to:
The Mayo Clinic – For Amyloid Research, Attn: Dr. Morie Gertz200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN  55905

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