Elizabeth Mary Zuppone

Elizabeth Mary “Betsy” Zuppone (née Rizzo), beloved wife of Michael L. Zuppone for 30 years, adored mother of Michael L. Zuppone, Jr., and dearest sister of Louis Robert Rizzo III, passed away on October 27, 2023, at Mount Sinai West, surrounded by her family. Betsy’s passing comes nearly two years after her diagnosis with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, which she battled with grace and dignity.

Betsy will be most remembered for the kindness and warmth she exuded throughout her life. A quintessential social butterfly, she enjoyed and thrived in the company of family, friends, and colleagues. Along the way, she developed her own unique “social network” decades before the term entered modern parlance. With a quick wit and radiating personality, Betsy would light up the room as she hosted dinners and parties and engaged with guests at the many charitable events she helped organize. Betsy absolutely loved the holiday season; her Thanksgiving dinners were the consummate culinary experience, and her Christmas parties were renowned for their elaborate decorations, joyful music, and signature cocktails.

Born on June 24, 1964, to Carol (née Hill) and Louis R. Rizzo Jr. in Fort Dix, New Jersey, Betsy grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ, where she developed a passion for dance in her youth, studying ballet for many years at a local studio under the direction of Alfredo Corvino. She graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1982, cherishing her time as a drummer in the marching band and as a cast member in the school’s theatrical productions. She later earned her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, where in keeping with her joy of performing, she delighted at being cast as Candy Starr in the university’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Complementing her political science major, Betsy was active in Penn’s student government serving as secretary of the Undergraduate Assembly. Betsy graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1989, where in addition to earning a J.D., she met her future husband, Michael.

Betsy developed a passion for charitable service early on in her life. After law school, she became an active member and treasurer of the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield, and later joined the New York Junior League after moving to Manhattan with Michael in 1993. With her love of dance, Betsy put her Junior League training to fulfilling use, serving on the board of trustees of Elisa Monte Dance, where she would concentrate on the dance troupe’s fundraising events. Betsy volunteered as a team parent for the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics Swim Team and later served on Asphalt Green’s board of trustees, where she left her mark by helping transform the annual Big Swim benefit into a family-centered celebration for the community. Betsy also served as parents’ auxiliary president (the “#1 Mommy” according to her son) for several years at The Caedmon School, where she shined in organizing the annual benefit and other school events. She later joined Caedmon’s board of trustees, and in keeping with her welcoming personality, oriented her service around sustaining the school’s sense of community.

Betsy flourished as a real estate attorney and was fortunate in pursuing a rewarding career in the fast-paced and often emotionally charged atmosphere of Manhattan residential real estate. Her area of practice was seemingly designed with Betsy in mind; she so naturally called upon her disarming personality to reduce tensions and assuage concerns that arose with clients and real estate professionals with whom she regularly interreacted.

Betsy enjoyed traveling with her family. She took pride in enriching the family as she researched and curated art, history, and culture-oriented experiences during their European travels. But it was summer vacations at her “happy place,” Cape May, NJ, where Betsy would relax and most enjoy the comfort of her family.

Besty is also survived by her aunt, Kira Cooper, cousins, Rianna Zimmerman and Tamara Cooper, sisters-in-law, Christine Moltisanti, Nicole Bove, and Maria Zuppone, sister- and brother-in-law, Renée and Edward Jachemczyk, and nieces and nephews, Jessica, Thomas, and Matthew Jachemczyk, and Karissa, Caitlyn, Taylor, Brianna, and Andrew Bove.

Michael, Michael Jr., and Rob wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to Camille Lennon, Pamela Dixon, and Lendina Lafrance, the dedicated nurses who cared for Betsy and exhibited the utmost concern, compassion, and friendship as she recovered from her neurosurgery and underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Betsy’s cancer diagnosis and untimely death have been profoundly devastating for her family and friends, and she will be sorely missed by all. A wake will be held on Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at The Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, located at 1076 Madison Avenue, New York, NY. A Catholic funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 3, at 10:45 AM at The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, 405 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019. Interment will follow immediately at The Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Betsy Zuppone Fund at The Caedmon School, which will be applied towards an inaugural children’s water safety program that will be named in Betsy’s honor.

https://www.caedmonschool.org/supporting-caedmon/donate

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.frankecampbell.com for the Zuppone family.