A lifelong advocate for Slippery Rock University and a benefactor of the University’s Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, Paul Rizza left an impact that goes beyond his time as a faculty member — it will be felt for decades to come.
Rizza served SRU from 1972-98 before retiring as professor and chair of the Geography and Environmental Studies Department, but his legacy also includes his commitments to students, global outreach, service in the community and as one of SRU’s most resounding philanthropists. Rizza passed away March 13 at the age of 87.
Rizza and his wife, Carolyn Carruth Rizza, who passed away in 2022, were best known on campus for their work founding and supporting Storm Harbor Equestrian Center. Carolyn Carruth Rizza also served on the SRU faculty for 24 years before retiring in 1999 as a professor of sociology and social work. Together, the Rizzas donated more than $1 million to Storm Harbor, including money to build the center and the endowment to pay its staff.
“Paul was not simply a supporter of Slippery Rock University and Storm Harbor — he was a true champion of our mission,” said Troy Miller, vice president for university advancement. “He dedicated more than a quarter century of service to SRU, shaping generations of students and strengthening the University community through his leadership, scholarship and generosity. We mourn his loss and grieve with his family and fellow colleagues and friends, and we are comforted to know that both his and Carolyn’s commitments and caring support will continue to have a lasting impact in lives that they have touched.”
Storm Harbor provides equine-assisted activities and equine-assisted therapies for children and adults with disabilities, serving people from more than seven counties. It also provides SRU students opportunities to serve individuals with disabilities, giving them valuable field experiences.
Rizza also contributed to scholarships and other financial investments in students and programs that helped empower growth and development.
“His legacy is so much more than about the money he gave, he actually did the work on the ground and met with scholarship recipients and got to know people,” said Jack Livingston, an SRU associate professor of environmental geosciences. “He was an incredibly engaging professor who was just always there for you, and he was incredibly supportive of our students, our department and the University.”
Although Livingston joined the faculty shortly after Rizza officially retired, Livingston credits Rizza for his mentorship and continued involvement to grow the department as an emeritus faculty member. Rizza’s presence ensured the lasting impact from his time as department chair, in which he started a cartography lab and implemented forward-thinking technologies around geographic information systems.
His achievements weren’t limited to SRU’s campus, as he was deeply engaged in service and global outreach. In 1976, he was awarded a Senior Fulbright Lectureship to Finland, which he adopted as his second country, where he was guest lecturer at three universities and he was selected to represent Finland at the European Fulbright Conference in Berlin.
A member of Rotary International for more than 50 years, he served as president of the Slippery Rock Rotary Club and later as district governor. His commitment to peace and international understanding was evident through his work with the Rotary Foundation, including supporting its Peace Fellowship Program. He and Carolyn endowed peace fellowships and traveled extensively, visiting all seven continents and 87 countries. More information about Rizza and funeral arrangements are available in the obituary. More information about Storm Harbor is available on the University’s website.
