Rizza

Paul Frederick Rizza, 87, of Grove City, died from congestive heart failure peacefully at his residence surrounded by his loving daughters Friday, March 13, 2026.

Paul was born Dec. 15, 1938, at New Britain General Hospital in New Britain, Conn., and was a son to Michael and Arline (Jasse) Rizza. Paul was the third of five children. His older siblings, Joseph Rizza and Joan Ellison, preceded him in death. His younger siblings, James Rizza, from Arizona, and Margaret Ellsberg (Rizza), from New York, are still living.

Paul graduated from E.C. Goodwin Technical High School and New Britain Senior High in 1956. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 until 1960. He earned his parachutist badge at Fort Benning, Ga. and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. He spent 28 months at the United States Military Academy West Point as a combat engineer with the 1st Battle Group, 1st Infantry. Paul served primarily as a military instructor and was honorably discharged in 1960.

After working as a carpenter, Paul enrolled in New Britain State Teacher’s College and received his B.S. in 1966 and his master’s degree in 1968. He was offered a teaching fellowship at the University of Georgia where he completed his Ph.D. in economic geography in 1972. Paul was hired at Slippery Rock University as the geography department chair where he remained until his retirement in 1998. Shortly after his retirement, he was awarded professor emeritus status by the university. In 1976, he was awarded a Senior Fulbright Lectureship to Finland, which he adopted as his second country. In Finland he lectured at three universities and was a guest lecturer at universities in Sweden. In 1976 Paul was selected to represent Finland at the European Fulbright Conference in Berlin.

Paul married Joanne (Motyka) Rizza in 1962 and they had two daughters, Laura Grace Rizza and Sandra Josepha (Rizza) Howe, both residing in California. Paul adopted Michael Stanley Rizza, residing in California, Joanne’s first child from a prior marriage. Joanne and Paul divorced amicably in 1979. Paul had four grandchildren, Michael Seiferth, Paul Dulski, Eric Dulski and Sarah Seiferth.

In 1979, Paul married Carolyn Elizabeth Carruth, from Houston, Texas. Carolyn was a professor at Slippery Rock University where they met. They had a wonderful marriage for 44 years until her death in 2022. Between 1989 and 2021 they traveled to all seven continents and 87 countries. Much of their travel was related to Rotary. Paul was a Rotarian for more than 50 years and devoted significant time and energy supporting the Rotary Foundation’s Peace Fellowship Program.

Paul was active in Rotary International and served as president of the Slippery Rock Rotary Club from 1978-1979 and as district governor of 7280 from 1999-2000. Paul served on the Rotary International Peace Center Committee and received the Service Above Self Award in 2005 and the Citation for Meritorious Service in 2007. Paul and Carolyn endowed two peace fellowships at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Paul continued this charitable giving until his death in 2026.

Paul often said, “I had a wonderful life and I am grateful for all those kind people who helped make it so.”

RIZZA — The family of Paul Frederick Rizza, who died Friday, March 13, 2026, will receive friends at 11 a.m. until time of the memorial service at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at North Liberty Presbyterian Church, 209 North Liberty-Plain Grove Road, Grove City, with the Rev. Albert Stuart presiding.

Interment will be at North Liberty Cemetery immediately following the service.

Family and friends will gather after the interment for refreshments and fellowship.

Arrangements are under the direction of SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rotary Club or Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, SRU.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.