Cosmo Joseph Zizzi, Sr., 100, passed away on Monday, October 28, 2019 in Carlisle, PA surrounded by the company of loved ones. He was born on October 28, 1919 in Century, West Virginia to Vitantonio Zizzi and Elizabetta Maria (Semararo) Zizzi, both from Cisternino, Italy.

His family moved to Utica, New York in 1925. In 1936 he joined the CCC (Civil Conservation Corps) in Hartwick, NY. After six months his group went to Heisey, Idaho to work. He returned home after his stint and then signed back up and was assigned back to Heisey, working in Yellowstone Park, building dams and fighting fires.  He learned to cook while serving in the C's, which became his life-long profession. He said "the C's were run like you were in the army and prepared many of us for the war." After leaving the C's in March 1940 he got a job at Heisey Hot Springs Resort. Also working there was a young and beautiful recent high school graduate, Refugio Theresa Jiminez, from Black Foot, Idaho. Six months later Refugio went off to her first year of college. In the fall of 1940 Cosmo returned to Utica and got a job with the New York Central Railroad. He was a life-long NY Yankees fan and saw many of the Yankee greats, including Joe DiMaggio. In February 1942 Cosmo went into the army and had basic training in Camp Polk, LA where he was later assigned to the newly formed 7 ^th Armored Division.  The 7 ^th AD fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and bought valuable time for the allied cause holding up the German offensive in St. Vith, Belgium. At the end of the war, in 1946, he reenlisted, shortly thereafter he was granted a 90 day leave to head back to the states. He then traveled to Idaho and proposed to Refugio Jiminez. Cosmo and 'Ruff' were married in September 1946. Cosmo returned to Europe working in graves registration in Liege, Belgium. Refugio left her job as an interpreter for the US Department of Agriculture and joined him in Liege where she also worked in graves registration. Sargent Zizzi was in the army 23 years, retiring in 1964 with his last assignment at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle PA. Cosmo and 'Ruff' had six children, all born at military bases throughout the United States and Europe. After his retirement Cosmo and Ruff purchased The Holly Pike BarBQ and later founded Zizzi's Truck Caps, Storage Sheds, and Monuments. His life was a great story of American entrepreneurial spirit. He loved his family first but also taught the value of hard work and determination. He spent his retirement years traveling with Ruff. His passion to keep busy kept his mind keen and he was always actively studying the history of the battles he was in. He presented this information on his famous "Story Boards" at USAHEC, at the annual WWII events at Gettysburg and at the Thornwald Home.

Cosmo was predeceased in 2010 by his wife of 64 years, Refugio Theresa Zizzi; brothers, Joseph, Vito (Bill) and Nunzio; sisters, Margaret Zizzi, Anna Peek, and several siblings during the great flu epidemic. He is survived by brother, Peter Zizzi and sister, Theresa Porto.  Six children: Marianne Zizzi Basile (Bill), Anthony Zizzi, Cosmo Zizzi, Jr., Elizabeth Zizzi (Al Wentzel), Theresa Zizzi and Bill Zizzi (Teri). Ten grandchildren: Marc Feeser, Adrienne Hartman, Marisa Lehr, Colin Zizzi, Brennan Zizzi, Trevor Zizzi, Angelina Stasyszyn, Gabriel Stasyszyn, Marguerite Shughart and Celia Zizzi. Great-grandchildren: Aidan, Aubrey, Harper, Hailey, Zander, Arie, Vivian, Carter, Julian, Natalie, Evelyn, Tristan, Greyson, Sophiah, Harpar and several sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 10:00-11:00 am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Dr., Carlisle followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am with the Rev. Tiburtius Raja as the celebrant. Interment with military honors will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery, McClure's Gap Rd., Carlisle. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Lebanon VA Medical Center or St. Patrick's Church, Carlisle, PA.  www.EwingBrothers.com.