Joseph J. Ritzo

BARRE – Joseph J. “Joe” Ritzo, 67, of Elm Street passed away on Monday, January 28, 2019 at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington with his family at his bedside.

Born September 26, 1951 in Norwalk Connecticut, he was the son of Joseph J. and Agnes (Magyar) Ritzo, Sr.

Joe attended Saint Joseph’s Elementary School in Norwalk Connecticut and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1969 in Norwalk Connecticut. He then went on to attend Villanova University in Pennsylvania where he earned his bachelor’s degrees in History and Education.  In 1975 he received his Master’s in History from the University of Rhode Island.

On August 18, 1974 he married Marie Altavilla in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  After their marriage, they made their home in Vermont.

Joe was a social studies teacher at Stowe High School for 39 years before his retirement.  He was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church. In his spare time, Joe enjoyed reading, baking, traveling, model trains, coin collecting, hiking and playing sudoku. He relished deep discussions but most of all loved being with his family, sharing laughter and long stories.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Ritzo of Barre; his son Charles Ritzo and his wife, Deanna; his daughter Elizabeth Ritzo; his grandson to be Samuel Joseph Ritzo; his sister Agnes Peterson, and multiple nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two sisters Maria Schiro and Celine Ritzo, as well as his father-in-law Lawrence T. Altavilla.

His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. in St. Monica Catholic Church, 79 Summer Street, Barre. Family and friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.  Following the service, interment will take place in Hope Cemetery in Barre.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Potter’s Angels Rescue, PO Box 162, East Randolph, VT 05041 ( https://www.pottersangelsrescue.org ) or Central Vermont Humane Society, PO Box 687, Montpelier, VT 05601 ( https://centralvermonthumane.org )