Thomas A. Rizzi

Thomas A. Rizzi of Windham, CT passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Windham Hospital. The eldest son of Anthony V. & Norma A. (Reffelt) Rizzi, he was born in Jamaica, NY on January 29, 1942. He grew up in Garden City, NY and was a graduate of St. John's University. Tom worked in the music industry as a singer/songwriter/producer on the Roulette Records label. He was a lead singer and heart throb for a few popular bands. He later settled into the construction field with his father at Rizzi Concrete of New York City. He spent the next 30+ years working as a project manager/estimator. Tom was a published author and popular blogger on the world wide web where he was affectionately known as TRhit. He loved animals especially his Westie, Little Miss. He was an avid fisherman who pioneered several bass tournaments and penned many outdoor magazine articles. Tom loved all sports and through the years was actively involved with many youth athletic programs, but his true passion was baseball. In 1995, Tom established the College Select Baseball Program, an organization devoted to helping high school student-athletes in their college pursuit. Through his efforts, he made a major impact on thousands of ball players lives by assisting them in finding an academic/athletic match with the right college. Tom's success can be measured by the achievements of those ball players that have launched careers as business professionals, doctors, lawyers, professional baseball players and even a Major League Baseball World Series Champion/All Star. On and off the field Coach Rizzi's booming voice inspired players and irked umpires across the country. He will be painfully missed by his adoring wife, Lynne, his brother and sister-in-law Richard and Antoinette Rizzi of Southold, NY, his daughter and son-in-law Shannon and Richard Murphy of Fishkill, NY, his stepson and his wife Steven and Nicole Blinn of Vernon, CT, his stepdaughter and her husband Kathryn and Todd DelGaizo of Manchester, CT, his grandsons and step-grandsons, Aidan, Jack, Michael, Tyler, Joseph and Joshua. He is also survived by sons Todd Rizzi and Adam Rizzi of FL, Anthony Rizzi and daughter Lauren (Rizzi) Carpenter of NY Plans are underway for a memorial gathering. Memorial contributions can be made to the TRhit Memorial Scholarship Fund through the collegeselect.org website. The Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic assisted with arrangements. Please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com for online memorial guest book.