Former Oak Ridge Resident Helene Rizzo, Assistant to Martha Graham, Dies at 88

Services were held for Helen Lepska Rizzo, 88, who died on Jan. 9. The former Oak Ridge resident lived in Garfield at the time of her death.

Born in Zabno, Poland, Mrs. Rizzo came to the United States in 1929 at the age of 4. She lived in Passaic, Oak Ridge, and Brooklyn, NY, before moving to Garfield 23 years ago. Mrs. Rizzo was a graduate of Butler High School and the Scudder Business School. 

She was an executive secretary at Universal Pictures and served as a personal secretary to the famous dancer Martha Graham. She was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church, in Garfield, and a member of the Garfield Senior Citizens. 

Mrs. Rizzo was the beloved wife of the late Frank Rizzo, devoted mother of Jeffrey F., Christina, Victoria, Constance, and Diane; loving grandmother of Francesca, Olivia, Sebastian, Alexander,and Lucas; dear sister of Lepska, and cherished aunt of Leonard. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Rosary Hill Home, 600 Linda Avenue, Hawthorne, New York 10532.