Louis (Luigi) Pasquale Cizza. My beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, Luigi closed his tired eyes on November 20, 2013 with his wife and his daughter at his side. His long journey is over. It was a beautiful journey filled with love, kindness and wisdom. Born in Utica on April 4, 1920, Luigi Pasquale Cizza was the only son of Giovanni Battista and Antionette Coppola Cizza. In the fall of 1947, Luigi met Dolores Dieglio, and they were married on June 30, 1951 at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church by Father Peter Bortolazzo. For the best of times and his constant devotion, Dolores will forever love and honor his memory. Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light and Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled, as to console; To be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Luigi is survived by his loving and devoted daughter, Mary Grace Roth. He always said, "My daughter". So like her father, not a surprise, she reads his favorite books, and his library will continue to be well-read. Luigi is survived by his grandson, Ciro Louis Raspante, wife Erica, and a future great-grandson Ciro David. Grandpa and Ciro, this was a loving and strong bond. They had a great deal of respect for each other. Ciro always knew what Grandpa wanted to say just by looking into his eyes. By looking at each other, they had a conversation. As a youngster Ciro said, "I'm glad you're my grandfather." His favorite greeting, coming into the house, ruffling gramp's hair - "Hi there Einstein!" How lucky those two were to have each other for such a long time. Luigi is survived by his son, John A. Cizza and wife, Barbara. Luigi was predeceased by his sister Theresa (Sister John Anthony), a Franciscan nun. Luigi is also survived by what he called his "Coppola cousins" - Pasquale Coppola, Henry Coppola, Charles Coppola and their wives and children. Also, Aunt Julia's daughter, Fiora Grandinetta Wilson. Luigi is also survived by his beloved cousins in Calabria, Italy - Luigi, Giovanni, Adolfo and their families. Luigi was educated by Scalabrini missionary priests and Franciscan nuns at Saint Mary of Mount Carmel School. He was educated by Xavarian brothers at Saint Francis de Sales High School, graduating as class Valedictorian in 1938. He received a scholarship to Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, graduating in 1942 with an A.B. degree. He bolstered his education with a B.A. from Syracuse University and an M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1937, at the tender age of 17, he set foot on the decks of the Rex, the fastest trans-Atlantic liner of its time, to sail to Italy. This trip was sponsored by the Italian government every year for 300 boys of Parochial schools in the United States. He earned his place on this trip by attending Italian night school classes at Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Church. For Luigi, the highlight of that trip was being given permission to leave the tour group to go to Scandale in Calabria to visit his paternal grandmother, Teresa Cizza. Luigi served his country during World War II as a cryptographer and combat soldier in Germany and Austria. His principal career was Science education, serving as head of the Science Department at Utica Free Academy, retiring in 1985. Luigi was an adjunct professor of Physics and Italian at Utica College. Luigi was well into retirement in 1991, when he began producing an Italian American Radio Program with Dolores. Thus was born, "Ricordi Italiani", Italian Memories. The program became so popular that he was asked to produce a similar program in the Albany, NY area. Luigi brought into homes each Sunday what he liked to say was, "the world's most romantic music in the world's most beautiful language". An important segment of the program was his reading of the Sunday gospel in Italian. In April of 1996, Luigi was presented with the "Positive Image Award" by the Order of the Sons of Italy in America. The reward read: "In acknowledgement and recognition for the excellent support you have given to fostering the positive image of Italian-Americans. You have accomplished this through the exemplary conduct of your life and through your outstanding radio program over the past years. You bring credit to the Italian-American community and have fostered area-wide appreciation and respect for Italian music and Italian heritage. You have caused many Italian-Americans to be proud of the origins and the heritage of their forefathers. Luigi's memberships included RUTA, American Association of Teachers of Italian, American Physical Society, American Association of Physics Teachers, American Society for Metals (serving as past chairman of New York chapter), honorary life member of the William E. Burke Council 189 Knights of Columbus. For many years he served as chairman of the annual McQuade Memorial Essay contest sponsored by the Knights. The contest was named in honor of the Reverend Paul McQuade, who celebrated the first mass recorded in Utica, in 1813. Luigi was proud to be a member of the Knights of Columbus. For those wishing to make contributions, and in lieu of flowers, it would please Luigi to contribute to the Scalabrini Missionaries, Father Aldo Vendramin, 546 Northeast Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. Per Luigi's wishes, there was a private burial ceremony, attended by his immediate family, at Calvary Cemetery. To send an on-line message of sympathy, www.johnlmattfuneralhome.com