Marcia Blanco Rizzo

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Marcia Rizzo, who left us on February 18, 2025, at the age of 89.

Born on February 4, 1936, Marcia led a whole life dedicated to her family, friends, and professional lives. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and grace.

Marcia Blanco Rizzo was born to Ramon Blanco and Edith Crowley Blanco in White Plains, NY. Her father, Ramon Blanco, was originally from Puerto Rico and worked as a well-regarded title insurance lawyer in Westchester County, NY. Marcia was the older of two children. Her younger sister, Barbara Blanco Gaab, passed away two years ago at the age of 80 and was survived by her husband, Gerald Gaab. Barbara and Gerald had long, successful careers at International Business Machines (IBM).

Marcia had met her beloved husband, Philip Rizzo, in Hackettstown, NJ, where she was enrolled in junior college and married in 1955. Philip Rizzo was born in 1924 in Philadelphia, PA. Marcia and Philip had their only child, Louis, in 1960 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Marcia was a wonderful and nurturing mother. Philip was a Professor of English Literature at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, for most of his career until his retirement in 1982. He was very well-regarded for his teaching and mentoring skills. Besides his research, teaching, and mentoring, he authored several works of fiction.

Marcia completed her BA in Sociology at Wilkes College in 1971, a Master of Social Work at Marywood College in Scranton, PA, in 1973, and a BS in Nursing at Wilkes College in 1978. She worked in family services at the Family Service Association in Wilkes-Barre, PA, from 1973 to 1975, and also had positions as a nurse at Mercy Hospital Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA, at the Rural Health Corporation in Shickshinny, PA, and Wilkes-Barre PA, and also a hospice. Her career in nursing spanned from 1978 through 1988. After retirement, she worked as a volunteer nurse at SOME Clinic for the Homeless in Washington. She maintained her extraordinary dedication to serving the underserved communities' psychological and health needs in all her activities.

Marcia and Philip lived in Wilkes-Barre, PA, until 1993, when they moved to the Washington, DC, area to be closer to their son, who worked as a statistician at the consulting firm Westat in Rockville, MD. Philip Rizzo passed away in 2010 from lung cancer at the age of 86.

She is survived by her only son Louis, who is married to Lianqin Wang, a World Bank education specialist. Both Louis and Lianqin are now retired.

Celebration of Marcia's Life takes place at McLaughlin's, 142 South Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre, from 11 AM to noon on Monday, March 17, 2025.

Friends of Marcia can send flowers and sign a book offering condolences, or alternatively, can provide a donation to the National Audubon Society in her name.

Share memories and condolences with Marcia's family at mjmclaughlin.com