Monday, September 27, 2021
With sorrow for a lost loved one and gratitude for a life well lived, we share that Dr. Jeffery B. Rizzolo, Jr., DDS, 78, of Pawtucket, has passed away.
Jeff died at his home in Pawtucket, surrounded by his family on September 22, after living courageously with cancer and the effects of cancer treatment for 21 months; he would have preferred to ski.
Jeff was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the only child of Dr. Jeffrey B. Rizzolo, Sr., and Emma V. (Jannarone) Rizzolo. He grew up in Pawtucket, where as a child he played pond hockey and tennis in Slater Park. After graduating from Tolman High School, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Anselm College, of which he has remained a dedicated and active alumnus. While at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Jeff not only earned his doctorate in dental surgery, but also got the chance to meet his future wife, Gracelynn Julia Lange. The two were married on December 28, 1969. After completing his dental studies, Jeff enlisted in the United States Army, where he served in Vietnam. After his honorable release from military service, Jeff began his dental practice alongside his father on Armistice Boulevard in Pawtucket. Jeff practiced competent, kind and compassionate dentistry for 34 years until his retirement in 2005. He regaled patients with stories from his family, of which he was extremely proud. Thanks to his dental practice and involvement in the community, it seemed like everyone knew Jeff, and if you didn’t know him, it would only take five minutes of conservation to feel like a longtime friend.
Jeff and Gracelynn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family in 2019, just before Jeff’s pandemic and cancer diagnosis. Together, Jeff and Gracelynn were partners in work – Gracelynn worked as a dental assistant and dental hygienist in Jeff’s dental office – and in life, as they were raising three children in the same neighborhood where Jeff himself grew up. “Doc†was known in his neighborhood as a caring neighbor and meticulous gardener, almost always working outside in his garden during the summer months and cursing fallen leaves in the fall. When he wasn’t in the yard, he could be found on his porch watching baseball or Indy Car races on TV. Jeff was pleasantly surprised to see the Red Sox win not one, but four World Series championships in his lifetime.
Jeff was active in Boy Scout Troop 15 with his sons and sponsored several youth sports teams through his dental practice. For many years he was a runner and completed a dozen marathons. Jeff also rode with the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen. Jeff was passionate about the outdoors, especially the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He completed the ascent of all 4,000-foot peaks in the Whites in 1979 and frequented hiking and downhill skiing trails in the Whites all of his adult life. He was an avid downhill ski enthusiast and spent over 50 days each winter on the slopes during his retirement years; his favorite ski area was Attitash Mountain. The White Mountains were frequently the subject of his photography, a lifelong hobby to which he devoted much of his time during his retirement (see https://www.flickr.com/photos/rizzolo/). Jeff has always been generous with advice, whether it be hiking, gardening, running or photography.
In addition to his wife, Jeff was much loved by his son David and daughter-in-law Michelle Phaneuf (Barrington, RI), daughter Allison (Austin, TX) and son Daniel and daughter-in-law Adrian Gall. (Fairbanks, AK), as well as three grandchildren, Tate and Simone (Barrington, RI) and Gavin (Fairbanks, AK), many friends and relatives, and her loyal dog, Denali.
Friends and relatives are invited for a visit on Wednesday, September 29, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the family respectfully requests that face coverings be worn and that anyone not fully vaccinated or feeling ill be not present.
Funeral services and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial donations to the Cancer Research Institute, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, or just get out there, enjoy a walk and remember Jeff.
For directions and the guest book, please visit the Bellows Funeral Chapel.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Jeffrey, please visit the flower shop.
