Little League® Baseball and Softball mourns the passing of Grace Rizzo, who came to work for Little League International in 1964, and was the organization’s longest-tenured employee. She was 70.
Throughout her five-plus decades with Little League, Mrs. Rizzo, a native of Williamsport, Pa., and 1964 graduate of Montgomery (Pa.) High School, had served as an assistant to former Little League International Presidents Peter J. McGovern and Dr. Creighton J. Hale. At the time of her passing, she was the assistant to Little League Senior Vice President Patrick Wilson. Mrs. Rizzo’s late husband, Frank (who passed away in 1993), was the longtime Umpire-in-Chief for the Little League program.
“Grace was the embodiment of the Little League program,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “The Rizzo name is synonymous with Little League, and Grace, albeit humble and diminutive by nature, was sincerely proud to be a part of the program. To be so dedicated to her fellow employees, and believe so much in the ideals of Little League, it goes without saying she was immensely special to our organization and will be missed.”
Little League celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014, and that summer, during the annual Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Mrs. Rizzo’s 50 years of service were recognized with an on-field ceremony.
The Rizzos had ties back to the earliest years of Little League, and were personal friends of Little League founder Carl Stotz. Both were active participants in Little League’s growth from a local program to international youth sports phenomenon.
Mrs. Rizzo is survived by her mother, Dorothy; sister, Gloria; stepsons, Anthony and Franklin; and several stepgrandchildren and stepgreatgrandchildren.
On Friday, Dec. 8, at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Allenwood, Pa. (715 Pikes Peak Road), visitation is scheduled from 10:30-11:30 a.m.; with the funeral service to begin at 11:30 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made to either to St. John’s UMC or The Gatehouse.