By Ian Neligh
Roy Rizzardi passed away on Jan. 10, 2011.
Roy was born on May 22, 1927, in Denver to Joseph and Margaret Rizzardi, the fourth of nine children. He moved to Silver Plume in 1929.
He served in the U.S. Army from Aug. 17, 1945, and was honorably discharged on Feb. 1, 1947, after serving in the European theater during World War II.
Roy married Lila Lee Lacey on Aug. 22, 1949, in Idaho Springs. Together they raised four children in Silver Plume.
Roy started his career mining at the age of 14. He worked mines mostly in Clear Creek, Gilpin, Lake, Park and Jefferson counties. He also traveled around the western United States mining and was considered an authority in underground vein mining. He was a Colorado state mining inspector. He was last underground this year at the age of 83.
Roy’s passion was the outdoors, and he taught all of his children to share this passion.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Rizzardi. He is survived by daughters Donna Rizzardi of Denver and Diane Blake of Black Hawk; a son, Chris Rizzardi of Silver Plume; granddaughters Kristin Rizzardi of Silver Plume, Lindsey Rizzardi of Idaho Springs, Whitney Alder of Black Hawk and Jennifer Miller of Denver; grandsons Derek Blake of Black Hawk and Michael Zorman of Portland, Ore; great-grandsons Garrett Adler of Black Hawk, Roy Adler of Black Hawk and Caleb Miller; and great-granddaughters Holly and Daisy Miller.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 21, 2011, at 1 p.m. at the Large Town Hall in Silver Plume. A potluck reception will immediately follow. Funeral arrangements by Hegmann Funeral Service in Idaho Springs.
