Carmelo, Francesca & Concettina Rizza Memorial Family Fund

(Wakefield, MA) – The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc. (TSF) is honored to announce the establishment of the Carmelo, Francesca & Concettina Rizza Memorial Family Fund. Beginning in June 2026, a scholarship will be awarded from this fund to a local student pursuing education beyond high school.

This scholarship was established by Ian MacDonald in memory and honor of his grandparents, Carmelo and Francesca Butera Rizza, and his mother, Concettina Rizza MacDonald. It honors the Rizza family’s lasting contributions to Wakefield, including their decades of service to the local business community.

Carmelo (Carl) and Francesca (Frances) were married October 1923 at the Italian Methodist Church in Boston. Carl was a custom tailor with Rizza Brothers Custom Tailors and Frances was a homemaker. Frances came to the United States from Sicily at the age of five. As the eldest of eight children she was like a mother to the younger children, being responsible for their care and upbringing. She was an accomplished cook, gifted at handwork (crocheting , knitting, cross-stitch), an avid reader, and active at the Italian Baptist Chapel in Wakefield. Their daughter Concettina (Connie) was born in 1925, graduated from Wakefield High School in 1943, and studied music and piano, beginning at age 6, and played basketball. She earned the Executive Secretarial Degree from Burdett College in Boston in 1945. In 1950 she married Richard MacDonald at the First Baptist Church in Wakefield and relocated to Nashville, TN in 1958.

Rizza Brothers Custom Tailors opened in 1915 at 340 Main Street in Wakefield. For 48 years the shop provided custom-made suits and sport coats, along with alterations and dry cleaning services before closing in 1963. A true family enterprise, the business was operated by brothers Carl, Arthur, Charles, Harry, and John. After retiring, Carl and Frances relocated to Nashville in 1965 to be closer to their daughter and grandsons. Connie and Richard were married for 54 years and are laid to rest at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. Carl and Frances were married for 51 years and are laid to rest in the Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield.

Contributions to this fund help it grow and provide increased awards.Donations can be made to TSF of Wakefield, P.O. Box 321, Wakefield, MA 01880. Online donations can be made by visiting www.TSFofWakefield.org/donate. Please include the name of the fund with your donation, either on the check memo line or by adding a message/fund name with your online donation. Venmo payments can be made by searching for the charity @TSFofWakefieldMA.

Founded in 1960, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield is dedicated to providing financial assistance to Wakefield residents pursuing full-time higher education. In addition to supporting students, TSF administers over 635 scholarship funds established by community members to honor individuals, families, businesses, and organizations.For more information, including a complete list of funds, visit TSFofWakefield.org or call 781-245-4890.