Sherman A. Brizzi lived on the move. "He was always running. Even in his final days, when he was suffering from dementia, he was always writing something down, thinking about things he should be doing," said his youngest son, Bruce Brizzi, of Zelienople, Butler County. Mr. Brizzi, an educator, coach, public servant, mentor and World War II veteran, died Friday of congestive heart failure at his home in West Newton. He was 85. As a father, Mr. Brizzi was an exceptional role model who taught his children through a life of service, his son said. "He was involved in so many things while we were growing up," Brizzi said. " He was a coach for baseball in West Newton from the beginning of the program. ... It all started from there. He was involved in the church, town council and the community college. So many people told me about the impact he had on their lives. It overwhelmed me, because, when you are a child, you take what your parents do for granted. As an adult with a family of my own, I am amazed at what he did." Despite suffering from dementia in his final years, Mr. Brizzi was able to manage his life with remarkable clarity, his son said. "People would tell me my father seemed so sharp for his age. He managed it so well. He also kept his sense of humor." After serving in the U.S. Army as a technical sergeant in the African and European theaters of operation during World War II, Mr. Brizzi began his teaching career in Wellsville, Ohio. He then served as principal at West Newton High School until being offered a similar position at Monessen High School, just as his son was enrolling there. "All my brothers had him in high school, and just I was entering seventh grade -- the school was for grades 7-12 back then -- he said he had some bad and good news. He said he was offered a good job, but the bad news was he wouldn't be my principal. Actually, I was kind of happy, because he was very strict with my brothers when he was principal. I was happy for me," he said with a laugh. West Newton Councilman Armand Luzi held Mr. Brizzi in the highest esteem. "He meant the world to me," he said. Luzi, who served on council with Mr. Brizzi, said everyone wanted him to be part of their group. "He was a take-charge person, an educator, and he believed in treating everyone fairly and improving conditions in the borough. Everyone wanted Sherm to be part of their board ... and he was. Everyone believed in Sherm and what he had to say. They respected him. He was a pillar of the community. He got things done," Luzi said. In addition to Bruce Brizzi, Mr. Brizzi is survived by sons Sherman J., of Bethel Park, Allegheny County, Wayne of Warrenton, Va., and Patsy, of Gainesville, Va.; 11 grandchildren; and three sisters. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rose DeMarchi Brizzi; a son, Peter; a sister and two brothers. A funeral Mass will be held today at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, in West Newton, at 9:30 a.m., with the Rev. John A. Regoli as celebrant. Interment will follow at West Newton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Church or Westmoreland Hospice.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---