Paul Crispino Rizzo

Paul Rizzo passed away unexpectedly on August 18, 2026 at the age of 72. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Kathleen (Mulhern); his children: Regina (Bart) Buczynski, Margaret (Daniel) Velisek, and Joseph Rizzo; his grandchildren: Jacob & Nora Buczynski, and Eleanor Velisek; his siblings: Mike Rizzo, Jayne (Mike) Reardon, Theresa (John) Brooks, and Laura Rizzo; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He also leaves behind a strong network of friends in Geneva, IL, where he and Kathy resided for 30+ years, Bluffton, SC, and most recently Lakeside, MI. He is preceded in death by his father, Paul Rizzo; his mother, Jane Connolly Rizzo; and his stepmother, Marilyn Rizzo.

Paul was born on August 31, 1953 in Detroit, MI. He was a graduate of De La Salle High School in Detroit and went on to study and play lacrosse at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his MBA, gaining him “double domer” status, of which he was very proud. Following graduation, he pursued a long and successful career in Supply Chain Management & Logistics. He spent the last 19 years with Reyes Holdings before retiring at the end of 2025. There he made an impact on the lives of many colleagues and was instrumental in driving operational excellence across Reyes Beverage Group and Reyes Fleet Management. He was particularly proud of his efforts in standing up centralized ordering and routing through the call center, driver safety and compliance through Reyes Academy, warehouse optimization via gemba walks.

Outside of work, he was an avid golfer, skier, fisherman, reader, and ND sports fan and had a keen focus on lifelong learning. He had a special appreciation for wildlife, particularly watching birds and catching pesky rodents. Despite his complaints about “hacks” on the ski slopes and golf course, he had the biggest heart and loved his people fiercely. He had the rare ability to connect with anyone, anywhere. The first to start the party and the first to leave, he always prioritized having a few good drinks followed by an early bedtime. He will be deeply missed and remembered often for the wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend that he was.

A funeral mass will be held on September 4, 2026 at 11AM at St. Peter’s Church in Geneva, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you take the time to hug your loved ones or pay it forward to a stranger in honor of Paul. If you’d like to make a donation, please consider Catholic Charities USA or Corbella Clinic in South Elgin, IL.

Arrangements are entrusted to Pike Funeral and Cremation Services, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman.