Richard "Dick" Milazzo

Richard “Dick” Milazzo went home to be with his Lord. He was born in Syracuse on December 26, 1931 to the late Angelo and Rose (Renetta) Milazzo. Dick grew up on the “West end” of Syracuse. He graduated from Blodgett – Vocational High School. While at school he was a gifted athlete, playing baseball, softball, basketball, and football. He also boxed. He was a member of the Radio and Drama Clubs. He taught himself to play the piano.

He started his working life at Onondaga Pottery. He then worked at Solvay Process in the summers in order to play on the company’s baseball team. He then got into the construction business, first as a painter then a tile setter. He actually did the tile work during the construction of St. Margaret’s School. After years in construction, he became the manager at B & A Tile. He retired from Best Tile in December of 2020 after 49 years of loyal service.

He continued his athletic pursuits as an adult playing baseball and softball well into his fifties. He was also on many different bowling leagues, was a golfer, as well as a Little League coach for many years.

Dick married his beloved wife, the former Fanny Scirrino in 1962. They were married 43 years before her passing in 2005. They settled in the Syracuse area where they raised their family with unconditional love and gentle guidance. They enjoyed many weekends with the family at a camp at Stony Knolls along with his sister and brother-in-law, Gen and Gene Rector and his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Antoinette Milazzo. They had many happy times with camp friends.

Dick was a man of unwavering faith all his life. He was the sacristan, usher, and adult server at St. Margaret’s Church for the last 40 years. He has been a communicant of St. Margaret’s for 58 years.

He was an avid car enthusiast, especially Cadillacs and Corvettes. He enjoyed all sports on TV; men’s, women’s and children’s. He always cheered on all the S.U. teams. He enjoyed watching westerns and anything his “girlfriend,” Doris Day was in. He really enjoyed his music loudly, especially Jazz and Percussion and attended the Jazz Fest each year. He enjoyed the productions at the Merry-Go-Round Theater and went to see many local high school productions.

In addition to his parents, Richard was predeceased by an infant brother, Anthony, his brother, Charles and his wife, Antoinette, and his brother Donald and his wife, Nancy. He was predeceased by his wife, Fanny. He was predeceased by his in-laws, son-in-law, John Venner, brother-in-law, Gene Rector, his mother and father-in-law, Mamie and Charles Sciarrino, Tony and Annie Sciarrino, Mary Lou and Angelo Fiacchi, Angie Brauchle.

Left to cherish his memory are his three children: Angelo (Cheryl) Milazzo of Clay, Richard A. (Diane) Milazzo of Syracuse and Debra Ann Venner of Syracuse; four grandchildren: John J. II (Melissa) Venner of Cicero, Jason (Chelsea) of Clay, Victoria (Nick Bradt) of Chittenango, and Nicholas Milazzo of Liverpool; four great grandchildren: John J. III, Miles, and Lela Venner of Cicero and Waylon Bradt of Chittenango. He also leaves his loving and devoted sister, Genevieve Rector; a brother-in-law, Charles Brauchle; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept #142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 or to Francis House, 108 Michaels Ave., Syracuse, NY 13208 in his name. Dick requested that we should perform an act of kindness for someone in need.

Friends may call on Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at St. Margaret’s Church, 203 Roxboro Rd., Mattydale. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin on Friday, 11:00 am, at St. Margaret’s Church, with Entombment at Woodlawn Mausoleum following.