Andrew Domenico Rizzo

NAME: Andrew “Andy” Domenico Rizzo AGE: 85 RESIDENT OF: Visalia DATE OF DEATH: 2/16/2015 OCCUPATION: Farmer PLACE OF DEATH:Visalia Start story here Andrew (Andy) Domenico Rizzo, born April 13, 1929, passed away on February 16, 2015 at the age of 85. Andy was an innovative and dedicated life-long farmer in both the Antelope and San Joaquin Valleys. He was born to Andrea and Lucy Morra Rizzo in Los Angeles. Andy was raised in Los Angeles and La Puente, graduating from La Puente High School in 1947. He possessed a natural mechanical aptitude which served him well throughout his life and during his two years in the U.S. Army. During that time, he worked on the Nike Guided Missile Program in El Monte, CA, White Sands, NM, and in the motor pool in Korea. In 1952, Andy and his cousin, Andrew Blua purchased an alfalfa farm in Llano, CA. Later that year, on October 25, 1952, Andy met the girl he was looking for—Angeline (Angie) Piani at a family wedding. The two married on July 26, 1958, at the newly constructed Sacred Heart Church in Lancaster, CA. They went on to raise their two sons David, born in 1959 and Eugene in 1961. The two “Andys” successfully operated the Blua & Rizzo Ranch for nearly 30 years where they were leaders in the local farming community. Their meticulously maintained farming operation was often featured in California Farmer, additional agriculture periodicals, and the local newspaper for innovations in weed control, irrigation, and pumping systems. They were the first in the area to use a large natural gas engine to power the pumping and irrigation systems. Andy, along with his wife and sons purchased a farm north of Visalia, CA in 1981. The new company, Rizzo & Sons farmed black-eyed beans, corn, wheat, and cotton. They later added plums, peaches, prunes, citrus, and olives. Through forward thinking, perseverance, efficiency, and hard work, the family transformed a barren property into another showcase operation. Andy farmed instinctively and with dogged determination worked until things went right. When asked what approach to take while farming, Andy said “the eyes tell you what to do”. Rizzo & Sons was sold in 2004 yet Andy continued to take a great interest in the operation of his beloved farm. Andy was a long-time, active member of Visalia Sons of Italy and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. After the Visalia farm was sold, Andy enjoyed curing olives, gardening, cooking, taking trips to the Central Coast, and spending time with his family and friends. Together with Angie, he loved to prepare big pots of pasta sauce, soups, and stews with his home grown produce and to share his garden’s bounty with friends and family. Andy is survived by Angie—his devoted and beloved wife of 56 years; son David and his wife Nicole and son Eugene and his wife Maya. The family extends their sincere appreciation to the aides, nurses, and physicians at the Kaweah Delta Hospital, Kaweah Delta Private Home Care, and Kaweah Delta Hospice for their services and care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Read for Life, the Sons of Italy Scholarship Fund, Kaweah Delta Hospice, or a charity of your choice. SERVICES: A rosary will be prayed Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel at 6 PM and Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Thursday, February 26, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10:30 AM A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com

Andrew Domenico Rizzo

April 13, 1929 - February 16, 2015