Robert Rizzardi

Robert (Bob) Rizzardi, age 90, formerly of Kalamazoo, MI, currently of Ft. Myers, FL, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on June 30, 2016. Bob was born in Flint, MI to Gustav and Lorraine (Lewis) Rizzardi. He was a standout athlete at Flint Northern High School and played football for Western Michigan University, where he later graduated. He served with the Army Air Force in World War ll at several US bases. Bob settled in Kalamazoo and began a career in sales selling building products with Vampco, North American Aluminum Company and Moduwall. Following his father's advice to "own your own business by the time you are 40", he co-founded Arthictectural Building Products (ABP) with Ivan Moerman. ABP became the preferred supplier of high quality materials for builders and architects for commercial buildings, schools, hospitals and universities in the Western Michigan region. The company remains a successful enterprise to this day. After retiring, Bob joined a partnership with a few of his best friends to create Main Street East, a 65,000 square foot historic redevelopment that thrives in downtown Kalamazoo. Bob is preceded in death by his sister, Betty. Bob is survived by his first wife, Mary DeLano Rizzardi, their three children and spouses, John and Carmen Rizzardi (Seattle, WA), Mark and Tia Rizzardi (Vadnais Heights, MN), Maria and Brian Craft (Anacortes, WA), and grandchildren, Peter (Los Angeles), Giselle (Seattle), Andrew (Taiwan), Grant (Marquette, MI), Owen and Emma (Anacortes, WA), and his second wife, Joanne Rizzardi (Bamman). His brother, Ralph, recently passed away in California. Bob loved to travel and spend time with his family. Bob and Joanne spent many summers at Crystal Lake in Beulah, MI and settled in Ft. Myers, FL where they enjoyed the beautiful weather and views of the Caloosahatchee River from their lanai. He was an avid competitor in sports, business, and life in general. You would often find him on the tennis or paddle tennis courts! Bob appreciated art and loved to cook. He was the master at finding the best of everything from Coney Island hotdogs in Kalamazoo to the best grouper sandwich in Ft. Myers. A memorial mass was previously held at St. Cecilia's Parish in Ft. Myers. Bob's love of nature and his desire to help people inspire his family to request that any donations in his name be made to the Ding Darling Wildlife Society or the Salvation Army.