Dr. Ed Rizy

Dr. Edward F. Rizy is a retired Principal Systems Engineer at Raytheon Company, working there for 33 years. Previously he had been an Air Force officer, Rome, NY, employed in display research, with subsequent reserve duties at Dayton, O., and the Air Force Academy. After retiring from Raytheon, he returned to teaching psychological science, with 17 years at Roger Williams University.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he traces ancestry to Austria, Germany, Russia and Poland. His first American arrival, Franz Rizy, was an Austrian army officer, musician and composer, who came to help win the Civil War. Ed is married for 60 years to the former Leonore M. La Barbera, a retired teacher of special education, Nationally Board Certified, from Gaudet School. Their children reside in Boston, Connecticut and Brisbane, Australia. Leonore and Ed attended Rhode Island battle reenactments in 1978 and participated along with scout units at Ft. Butts and Glen Park in 2003. 

Ed has worked with the Boy Scouts as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, and District Commissioner for Urban Scouting. He has been involved with the Melville Park Committee in various roles: starting the campground (1979-1983); member (2001 ff.); and chair (2007-2019). He served as parish council president at St. Barnabas church (1975-77) and religious teacher at St. Barnabas and St. Lucy churches.  He is also currently a member of Middletown Open Space and Fields committee.