Dr William H. Rizzini

Dr. William H. Rizzini President Emeritus - Roger Williams University Died February 29, 2016, of 16 Harborview Avenue, Bristol. He was the beloved husband of the late Lois A. (Houde) Rizzini. Bill was born in Providence in 1932, the son of the late William C. Rizzini and Frances R. (Arnold) Rizzini. He lived in Bristol for the past 20 years and prior to that in Barrington, Cranston and North Providence. He graduated from LaSalle Academy in 1950 and from Providence College in 1955. He earned an MA in English from the University of Rhode Island in 1965 and a M.ED from Rhode Island College in 1972. He was awarded Honorary Doctorates from Roger Williams College in 1976 and from the New England Institute of Technology in 1978. He served as a Lieutenant in the Army from 1955-1957, stationed in Virginia and Germany. Bill was a teacher at Jamestown School from 1957-1959 and taught English at North Providence High School from 1959-1961. In 1961, he began 28 years of service at the former Roger Williams Junior College, later Roger Williams College, in the English Department and as an administrator. Bill was a department chair, director of the evening program and acting dean at the college. He served as Acting President on two different occasions and then was named President, serving from 1978-1989. During his Presidency, standards were raised by the college community, a ten-year regional accreditation, the college's first, was earned and several academic departments achieved professional accreditations through the efforts of the faculty and administration. Also, the School of Architecture was established and built; the Thomas J. Paolino Recreation Center was built, as were several dormitories. Properties were acquired and other buildings were expanded and renovated. From 1989-1996 he was a Special Assistant to the President at the New England Institute of Technology where he worked in development and taught English. He was a member and chairman of the Board of the Samaritans, twice chairman of the Town of Bristol Charter Review Committee, a member of the State of Rhode Island Ethics Commission where he was elected chairman for one year. He was a trustee of the New England Institute of Technology for several years. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol. He was previously a communicant of St. Luke's Church in Barrington where he served as a lector for over 30 years. He was a co-chair of the campaign for funds to renovate the church. Bill served as the Rotary Governor of District 7950 in 1999-2000. He was, first, a member of the Bristol Rotary Club where he was President 1987-1988 and, later, he became a member of the Warwick Rotary Club. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. After retirement, he was a volunteer driver for ECHO in Bristol. He is survived by a daughter, Anne L. Wagner and her husband Anthony of Smithfield, three sons, twins William F. Rizzini and his wife Christine and John M. Rizzini and his wife Stephanie all from Riverside, and Stephen J. Rizzini and his wife Cathleen of Bristol. He was the brother of Anthony A. Rizzini of Glocester. Ten grandchildren also survived, Brian Morse of Warwick, Erik Morse and Michael Morse, both of Cranston, Christopher Rizzini and Matthew Rizzini, both of Providence, Danielle Rizzini of Albany, NY and Alyssa Rizzini of Riverside, Alexander Rizzini and Sarah Rizzini, both of Bristol and Samantha Wagner of Foster. Four great grandchildren also survive, Kiara Morse of Cranston, Penelope Morse and Oliver Morse, both of Warwick and Milania Morse of Cranston. Funeral services from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, Friday, March 4, 2016 at 9:30 AM with a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State Street, Bristol. Burial will follow in North Burial Ground, Hope Street, Bristol. Visiting hours Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bristol Rotary Club Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 469, Bristol, RI 02809. For online condolences, shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com

Service Information Visitation Thursday March 3, 2016 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sansone Funeral Home 192 Wood Street Bristol, RI 02809 --> Service Friday March 4, 2016 10:30 AM Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 141 State St. Bristol, RI 02809 -->