Visitation will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Heritage Funeral Home 1901 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202, from 1:00 PM until time of the Memorial Service at 2:00 PM.

A reception will follow.

Nicholas “Nick” J. Zizzo

1933  –  2023

 

Found peace Dec. 27, 2023, at the age of 90. Survived by his loving wife of 63 years Marie (Balistrieri) Zizzo, and sons Michael (Mary), Robert (Sara) and Nicholas (Kara) Zizzo. Proud Nanu of Alessandra Zizzo, Olivia Zizzo, Isabella Zizzo and Joe Zizzo. Brother-in-law of Jerry Balistrieri. Preceded in death by his brothers Frank (Margaret) and Joseph (Josephine), his sisters Frances (Steve) and Mary (Dominic), and his grandson Oscar Nicholas Zizzo. He is further survived by beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Nick and Marie’s relationship started at the Venice Club in Milwaukee, a family restaurant where Nick would often help out behind the bar. After lunch one day, Marie handed Nick the bill to pay, and he “accidentally” grabbed her hand instead of the bill.

Nick lived for his wife and sons, and cherished gatherings large and small at our family home of 45 years in Lynndale Farms subdivision. He often would take the lead in cooking for family and friends, and his specialties of Sicilian steak, gnocchi and spiedini were 5-star.

A new-car salesman by occupation, Nick loved cars and loved driving them even more. Our annual family vacations were Le Mans-like marathons packed five in a Buick heading to Florida, California or other parts of the country.

Nick had a deep passion for sports. He was an accomplished football and baseball player as a youth, and played competitive softball well after his knees wore out.

He has been a Green Bay Packers season-ticket holder since Vince Lombardi arrived and made tailgating an artform outside of Milwaukee County Stadium, always accompanied by his brother Joe and his marching-band music. Inexplicably, two of his sons are lifelong Oakland Raiders fans.

But nothing defined Nick’s love for sports and for his sons more than our nightly sessions of hitting pop flies in the backyard. He wouldn’t have even ditched his work tie before he’d grab a bat and hit baseballs to his boys until the sun went down.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Heritage Funeral Home 1901 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202, from 1:00 PM until time of the Memorial Service at 2:00 PM.

A reception will follow.