Margaret Rizzuti Lombardi passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday morning, April 27th, after a long illness. She was born on May 8, 1935 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Giuseppe Rizzuti and Anna Marzano Rizzuti. She was very proud of her Waterbury Italian roots and was the much younger sister, who learned from her four older siblings. She loved what they loved, big band music, good dancing, Sunday picnics at the Connecticut shore, good food and family. She often spoke of her father’s mandolin playing and her mother’s locally famous sausage, and, of course, the family store on South Leonard Street in Waterbury.
Margaret graduated from Crosby High School in 1953 and with a BA in chemistry from the University of Connecticut in 1957. After UCONN, she returned to Crosby High School, this time to teach alongside her former educators and mentors. She was active in the Waterbury Figure Skating Club and the Waterbury Civic Theater, where she enjoyed performing in their musical productions. Margaret developed a life-long love of musical theater.
In 1959 she received a National Science Foundation scholarship to study chemistry at Yale University. She received a second National Science Foundation scholarship in 1962 to study a full year at Cornell University, where she earned her master’s degree and met her future husband, Joseph Lombardi. They were married at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church in Waterbury on August 17, 1963.
After her marriage Peggy taught one year at Our Lady of Lourdes High School until she took time away from her teaching to raise her two children. She eventually returned to the classroom, teaching chemistry for one year at Poughkeepsie High School, then spent the rest of her career as a chemistry teacher at Arlington High School until her retirement in 1997.
Peggy loved to travel. Three of those highlights were a summer trip through Europe in 1960, a summer in Mexico with her family in 1974, and a cross-country trip to see the United States in 1997. She also enjoyed day trips to New York City to see Broadway shows and was an active participant in many day trips with AAUW. Peggy loved to dance, took Italian classes, enjoyed a good joke and loved to cook for her family, especially traditional holiday meals. She compiled a cookbook of family recipes and gave it to her relatives.
Active in her community and environmental causes, Peggy was on the board of Mid-Hudson Nuclear Opponents. She was a member of Dutchess Figure Skating Club, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women and Dutchess Democratic Women’s Caucus. She was a member of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee and served as Chairwoman of the Pleasant Valley Democratic Committee.
In addition to her parents, Margaret was predeceased by her brother Ferdinand Rizzuti and wife Lena, brother Louis Rizzuti and wife Joan, sister Mary Pavone and husband Joseph, and her sister Rose Rizzuti. They were all very close and enjoyed each other’s company immensely. She is survived by her daughter Judith Lombardi and partner John Mylod, and her son James Lombardi and his wife Keara. She was the proud grandmother of Jayden Mylod, Ava Lombardi and Luca Lombardi. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, her sister-in-law Josephine McGrath, and her former husband and friend, Joe Lombardi.
We would like to thank a small army of friends and family who helped Peggy during her illness, driving her to appointments, visiting, bringing food or other treats, stepping in to help with infusions, calling to check on her, the list is large and long. We are very appreciative to the team of aides who helped provide direct care these last several months, Sophie, Monique, Joyce, Linda, Flo, Juliette, Deon and Sharon. We also wish to thank Hospice, for their steadfast assistance and care.
Visitation is Sunday, May 1, 2022, 2-5 PM at the Wm. G. Miller & Son F.H., Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. A Mass of Christian Burial will Monday, May 2, 2022 at 10AM at Mt. Carmel Church, 95 Mill St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Entombment will follow in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Poughkeepsie Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at PO Box 565, Fishkill, NY 12524-0565 (c/o Sue Doyle) or to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater at 724 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com