Peter Paul Rysk

 93, of Narragansett, RI, died peacefully at Scalabrini Villa in North Kingstown, RI on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. He was the loving husband of Margaret (Ryan) for over 70 years. 

    Peter was born in Pawtucket, RI to a large loving Polish family. His parents Suzanna (Markowski) & Ignacy Ryszkiewicz raised a hard working and faith filled family. Peter was the youngest of 9 children- Stanley, Anna Dudzik, Frank, Julia Bejma, Domenic, Helen Macuga, Henry, & Edward. 

He loved sharing memories of going to the Pawtucket Boys Club for basketball and Christmas parties where every child received a gift. In his youth, Pete always had a job: he worked carrying ice blocks up to the third floor of many homes as well as setting up bowling pins in the local lanes. For his 90th birthday, he shared memories of those days with his children and grandchildren at a vintage bowling alley. He bowled on many local leagues and won numerous awards and trophies.

    Peter is survived by his beloved wife, Peg, and his four daughters – Sharon Rysk, Laurie and the late Bruce Liddell, Holly & her husband David Meyer, Meg DeCubellis & her husband John; 9 grandchildren – Jason Meyer, Nathan Meyer, Ryan Meyer, Meghan Amey, Molly Liddell, Erin Williams, Kyle DeCubellis, Eliza Kelly and the late Katie DeCubellis. He was blessed with a whopping 13 great grandchildren. 

    Peter was a photo engraver for Roger Williams & Bickford Engraving for many years. With his expertise, he served in the Korean War and was stationed in Germany as a mapmaker. He worked with a team who developed local maps in support of intelligence along the border, which would become East Germany. In his later years he was Sales Manager for M & F Case Co., which involved lots of networking and travel. His family joked that he was the original GPS and could find his way in and out of most towns in New England. 

    Pete & Peg bought their first home in Warwick, RI in the mid fifties and raised four daughters in their version of the “American Dream”. They faithfully attended St. Catherine’s Church where they volunteered their time in the marriage prep program. They enjoyed summer vacations at the beach and winters in Naples, Florida. They made many friends wherever they went. Their retirement years were spent in Narragansett close to the Town Beach with their children and grandchildren. Memories of Pete body surfing will live in the hearts of his children and grandchildren forever. Until his 90’s, Pete would chop and stack wood for the wood stove rewarding himself with his twice-daily cone of Friendly’s coffee ice cream. He and Peg could be seen at weekly mass at Christ the King Church, URI where Peter was an usher. 

    Pete was an avid New England sports fan and had an encyclopedic knowledge of basketball. He loved talking sports and reminiscing about the “Larry Bird” Celtics days. He could often be seen sitting half court with his family at the URI Men’s Rhody Basketball home games. His grandchildren loved seeing him on the sidelines at their school sporting events. 

Pete lived his life with an unending emphasis on family, faith, and friends. His beautiful singing voice will be remembered fondly at every family Christmas party. His happiest times were those surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

The family would like to acknowledge the dedicated and professional medical teams at Scallop Shell, South County Hospital and Scallabrini Villa. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial this Saturday, February 13th at 10:00 am at Christ the King Church, Old North Road, Kingston, RI. Registration for mass is required. Please register on this link www.NardolilloFH.com.  Face masks and social distancing will be observed. Private burial will be in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston, RI. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation www.kdmf.org  

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