Rosario A Rizzo

Rosario (Ross) A. Rizzo, 87, USAF retired Captain (1979), a resident of Schaumburg, Illinois since 1980, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2026.
A private family viewing will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Countryside Funeral Home in Bartlett, Illinois. A public funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 502 S. Park Blvd, Streamwood, IL 60107. Internment will follow in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery 1185 Algonquin Rd. Palatine, IL 60067.
Ross is the son of the late Giovanni and Anna Rizzo, cherished husband of the late Doris, loving father of Doris A. Kerridan (Mark), Michael J. Rizzo, and Angela D. Lightner (Patrick); loving grandfather of Corey Paller, Casey Mullen (Angelo), Melinda Rizzo, Jonathan Rizzo (Irish), Raymond Rizzo and the late Jessica Lightner; great grandfather of Natalie, Katherine, Tyler and Hailey; Zander and Bella; Gab and Isle. He is the beloved uncle of many, friend and mentor to countless others. He will be greatly missed.
Born in Dunmore, Pennsylvania on June 11, 1939, Ross was a first generation Sicilian American and the youngest of seven children. He graduated as a Carpenter from Johnson Vocational trade school in 1956 and joined the US Naval Reserve until February 1957 when he enlisted in the US Air Force. He attended basic training at Lackland AFB and then Radio interceptor School at Keesler AFB, MS. He was stationed in Sembach, Germany when he met his beautiful German Bride, Doris A. Rizzo (Mausi) in 1957. They fell in love and were married in August 1960. He was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany in 1962 when Rosario, Mausi and their first-born daughter returned to the USA at Suffolk County AFB Long Island, NY to serve with the 52nd Fighter group and their second child was born. The young family returned to Germany in 1964 and were stationed at Bitburg AFB. To further his education, he attended correspondence classes through the University of Maryland when, in 1967, their third and youngest child was born.
He volunteered for service in Vietnam but miraculously was accepted into the AECP Program and the USAF transferred the family to Columbus, Ohio where he studied at THE Ohio State University and completed both his B.S. in Business Administration (cum laude) and Master of Science in Finance and became the world’s greatest Buckeye fan.
He was commissioned as an officer in 1971. He served as a Budget Analyst while stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH with the C5-A System Program Office until 1974. The family moved back to Germany and was stationed at Spangdahlem AB and he served as Base Chief of Budget for the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing until returning stateside to HQ SAC Offutt AFB, NE in 1977. He served as Supervisor-Budget Systems until his retirement in December 1979. Throughout his military career he achieved many commendations including Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, small arms expert marksmanship ribbon, good conduct medals, Air Force longevity service award, National Defense Service Medal and Air Force outstanding unit award.
Following his military service, he and his small family embarked on a new adventure moving to the Chicago area in February 1980 where he began and expanded his career in Construction Audit, Contracts Administration, and Internal Audit, while working for multiple companies (Montgomery Wards, Sonicraft, Wickes Companies, The University of Chicago Hospital). He completed his professional career at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago where he was heavily involved with contract administration during the construction of two major wings of the hospital.
He retired in 1994 after the passing of his loving wife of 32 years, breaking his heart. In 1997 he completed and published a book about her titled “Remembrances of Mausi” [Sort Of A Biography of Doris A. Rizzo] where he shared the story of her life and theirs together.
He then dedicated many volunteer hours in many areas including St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Streamwood, literacy programs at the Schaumburg Library for many years, and decades for the Retiree Affairs Office in Rolling Meadows to help retirees and their families navigate the benefits for which they are entitled.
A humble and kind man, Ross put others before himself. He endured many hardships and losses yet maintained his faith. He was a patriot. He was the best dad, husband, grampa, uncle, friend and mentor. He loved to eat, cook, read, solve puzzles, garden and fish. He made the very best grilled cheese sandwiches and fruit cups, yes please. Our lives will never be the same without him. May he rest in peace.