Now 100 years old, Rizzo was born on August 21, 1921; the eldest of 12 children.
He spent his youth in his hometown, in the province of Messina, where his father worked by distributing bread to the neighbourhood.
Rizzo’s parents, Santo and Caterina, decided to move to the nearby town of Sparta once the children were starting to grow up.
Santo and Caterina bought a bakery, which ensured that all their children were employed.
This new venture was very successful until its progress was disrupted by the war.
Rizzo left for the front, and after four years in the Navy’s military kitchens, he returned home safely.
He resumed his work with the family business and met a beautiful girl named Concettina, whom he married in 1956.
The following year their first child, Santino, was born.
Work was scarce in the post-war period, so, in 1960, the family decided to move to Sydney.
They joined Rizzo’s sister, Fortunata, and her husband, Giuseppe, who had migrated to Sydney in 1958.
The rest of the family arrived by ship in July 1961.
Rizzo continued to work as a baker, sitting exams to formally qualify his years of experience.
His wife, Concettina, also worked, and they were soon able to buy their first house, in Leichhardt.
In 1966, their daughter Rita was born.
After a few years, the family travelled to Messina to visit their relatives, and to show the children where their parents had grown up.
Rizzo’s son, Santino, and his wife, Francesca, married in 1982 and had three children – two daughters and a son.
Rizzo’s daughter, Rita, and her husband, Chris, have two sons.
The five grandchildren are all college graduates, and one of them, Anthony, is married with two children.
Rizzo is now a happy great-grandfather and is enjoying his well-deserved retirement.
