Philip Rizzo Ph.D.

Philip L. Rizzo, Ph.D., 86, a resident of Willow Manor in Germantown, Maryland died Sunday, November 21, 2010 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Maryland.

Dr. Rizzo lived for many years in Wilkes-Barre, where he was a Professor of Literature and Linguistics at Wilkes University.

Philip was born in Philadelphia on July 23, 1924.

An Army veteran of World War II, he served as a sharpshooter and mortar expert for the Glider Infantry.

Philip entered the University of Pennsylvania after the war and graduated from the College in 1948. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1947. In 1959 he earned his Ph.D. in British and American 19th and 20th Century Literature.

Dr. Rizzo retired from Wilkes University in 1982 and was named Professor Emeritus. After moving to Maryland he taught courses at UMUC and Montgomery College and was the author of several works of fiction.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-five years, Marcia Blanco Rizzo; a son, Dr. Louis Rizzo of Potomac, Maryland; a brother, Joseph Rizzo of Hershey’s Mill in West Chester; and nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Philip’s Life will be held on Saturday, November 27, at 3 PM at the East Mountain Inn, 2400 Route 115 in Wilkes-Barre. Private interment will be in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Hanover Township.

Memorial donations are preferred and may be made in memory of Dr. Philip Rizzo, C’48, Ph.D.’59 to The Campaign for Penn, University of Pennsylvania, Gifts Accounting & Administration, Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut St., Room 433, Philadelphia, PA,19104-6205

To see Phil's Life Story, get directions, share memories, photos and more go to www.celebratehislife.com