Ruth C. Pizzat

Ruth Carol Pizzat, age 94, passed on to her Eternal home on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 7, 1930. Ruth was the middle child and only daughter of Eber and Pauline Lusk. As a child of the Depression era, Ruth, her two brothers and parents moved often in such hard economic times. Ruth found her passion in reading books while attending many schools growing up. She and her family settled in northern California where Ruth graduated in 1947 from Tamalpias High School in Marin County. She attended Marin Junior College and later completed her BA in English at Kalamazoo College in Michigan in 1952.

Ruth met Joseph Pizzat at Kalamazoo College and they were married in 1953. They moved to New York City where Joe earned his Doctorate in Education in Fine Arts and Art Education. To support her husband, Ruth worked in New York City as a secretary for two years before they accepted the first of many faculty appointments in Aberdeen, South Dakota. With each new college career move Ruth dedicated herself to her husband and children. They had many friends in the arts communities of Southwest Minnesota State University, Paterson (NJ) State College, and Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. During the summer months, Ruth worked alongside her husband at several country clubs in the northeast. While Joe was the USPTA Tennis Pro running the on-court programs, Ruth managed the tennis pro shop doing merchandising, bookkeeping and serving the members and their families who frequented the tennis activities.

For 32 years, Ruth and her husband lived in Erie, Pennsylvania. Together they made a warm and welcoming home, often sharing her homemade bread. Ruth enjoyed playing tennis and was a regular in water aerobics classes with her friends. Ruth also relished her solitude and found great joy in playing the piano. She loved music and told a childhood memory of being bounced on her dad's knee while he played the piano and sang. To the very end of her life, she found deep solace in hymns and songs that touched her heart. Ruth's love of creative writing, particularly poetry, compelled her to curate a collection of writings over her lifetime. In her late seventies, Ruth endeavored to self-publish her short stories and poetry in 3 small books. She was known for her clever wit and love of words.

In 2004 they retired to Sun City/Hilton Head, South Carolina to escape the Erie winters and be near their son and his family. She became an active member of the Sun City Writers' group and continued to be involved in tennis, swimming and friendships. In 2014 they moved to Columbia, Missouri to live by their daughter and her family.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband Joseph Pizzat in 2024. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers Paul Lusk in 2020 and David Lusk in 1999.

Survivors include her 2 children Paula (John) Tinnin and Michael (Patty) Pizzat, and her granddaughters Laura (Ed) Bentley, Julie Pizzat, Hannah (Anders) Jovaag, and Sarah (Max) Yeagle. She leaves behind 4 great-grandchildren: Kade, Jackson, Mason and Olivia. She also survived by a niece, Ruthann Russell, and three nephews: Joel, Jim and Joe Lusk.

A woman of quiet strength, Ruth spoke encouraging words to uplift others. She will be remembered for her gentleness and graciousness. Ruth was full of gratitude for her long life of love with her husband of 70 years; they are joyfully reunited in the arms of their Heavenly Father.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service for Ruth on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at Gate of Heaven Cemetery Chapel, 5711 West Lake Road. Funeral arrangements are in the care of the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, 2122 Raspberry Street, Erie, PA 16502.