Obituary of Joe Rizzo
Joseph Rizzo, 92, of Howell passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 4, 2023 following a brief illness.
Originally from Astoria, NY, Joe moved to Howell in the early 1980s with his family. Joe’s working life spanned that of many decades and varieties. Following a stint in the military, Joe played minor league baseball and later worked for Volkswagen. However, none of those pursuits could top his long and accomplished career as a trainer, owner and driver of harness racehorses.
Joe raced horses over 35 years at racetracks across the country. Amongst the racing community, Joe was commonly called Cyclone Joe and as he got older, the Elder Statesman. But as everyone knows, “Nobody beats the Riz”.
While he was a force to be reckoned with, Joe developed a reputation of integrity, warmth, and generosity.. He was known for his big smile and wit, both on and off the track. Along the way, he made countless friends, many of whom he kept in contact the rest of his life. While horses were his passion, his family is who he cherished the most. A husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Sunday dinners and holiday get-togethers won’t be the same without Pop. Joe also enjoyed tinkering around the house, known for his ingenious and sometimes unconventional repairs of everything…and anything. He will be sorely missed by those whom he knew, but remembered by the kind and truly wonderful man he was.
Joe was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Dolores; daughter, Wendy Cassella; grandson, Michael Cassella; brother, Jerry; and sister, Frances. He is survived by his daughter, Donna McNichol and her husband, Gary of Freehold; grandson, Austin of Freehold; great granddaughter, Skyla; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, December 11, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 1:15 PM with his funeral service to begin at 1:15 PM. Entombment will follow in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens, US Route 1, Woodbridge. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com
