Alfred Anthony Brizzolara Jr.

Alfred Anthony Brizzolara, Jr., age 91, of Wilmington, DE, was born on All Saints Day in New York, NY, and grew up in Belleville, NJ. He passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 16th, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife, children, and family.
Alfred graduated from St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, NJ (1951), earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Fordham University (1955) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Columbia University (1956, 1960). He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. His dissertation topic was "An Investigation of Some Reactions of Enamines" under Professor Gilbert Stork.
Alfred started his career in 1959 as a chemist at the Carothers Research Lab with the DuPont Company. He held a number of research and new business development positions in the Fibers Sector, including Senior Research Chemist, Research Supervisor, Senior Supervisor and Research Manager at the Experimental Station, Chestnut Run, and Christina Lab in Wilmington. At the time of his retirement from DuPont in 2001, he was Manager of Technology Planning in Central Research and Development and was a contractor with Mohawk Research. During his career, Alfred's work was in DuPont's Fibers Department with a focus on Nylon research. Products of note he helped develop include Qiana, Sontara, Tyvek, Reemay, Typar, and Kevlar. He was also the manager of the Technology Forecasting Group. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the scientific honorary society Sigma Xi, the World Future Society, the Licensing Executives Society, and Nonwoven Society's Technology Committee.
Throughout his lifetime, Alfred was known affectionately as Fred, Freddie, Brizz, Al, and Mr. B. An active ham radio operator for many years, he also was a skilled amateur photographer. He always had a camera in hand to document family gatherings and enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, including vacations in Spring Lake, NJ, a family tradition. He was an avid reader and had a deep appreciation for music, especially Mario Lanza and other classical artists. Above all, his greatest joy was his family. He was a constant presence at innumerable meaningful family events, from baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and weddings, to graduations, concerts, musicals, and sporting events. He loved being a father and grandfather. His legacy of faith and love of country will be carried on in all who love him.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 67 years, Barbara (née Lynch); his son, Robert Brizzolara (Carol) of Bethesda, MD; daughters, Anne Davis (William) of Baltimore, MD, Susan Wojcik (Russell) of Wilmington, DE, Margaret Florenzo (David) of Alexandria, VA and Sarah Foster (Steven) of Wilmington, DE; as well as 12 grandchildren who adored their Popop, Kate (fiancé Mike Patullo) and Claire Brizzolara; Liam, John, and Eliza Davis; Sarah and Matthew Wojcik; Timothy, Lucy, and Charles Florenzo; Abigail and Alec Foster; his brother, Donald Brizzolara (Jackie), and many nieces and nephews. Alfred is predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Mary (née Nesi) Brizzolara, Sr.
A viewing will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, followed by interment at Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to: St. Benedict's Preparatory School 520 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Newark, NJ 07102-1314
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