Pfc. Richard A. Mazzeo Hometown: Spotswood, New Jersey, U.S. Age: 20 years old Died: September 30, 2006 supporting the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Unit: 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Ricki was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on August 27, 1986 at Middlesex General Hospital ( now Robert Wood Johnson )He was born 8 pounds,5 ounces, 20 inches to Cathie Mazzeo and Rick Rysinski.
He was born with a full set of beautiful blonde hair ( which the nurses loved, and his Dad got in trouble because he spiked it up and called him "Baby Idol") and a set of gorgeous ice blue eyes that could melt your heart.
He was a good baby. Ricki resided with his mother Cathie untill he was 16 and moved in with his father Rick. He was a gifted and talented student and attended Charter School in Highland Park where he did very well. He moved to Toms River , New Jersey at the end of his 6th grade year. From Silverbay Elementary he moved on to Toms River Intermediate East for Grades 7th and 8th and attended 9th and 10th grade at Toms River High School North with one year of Vocational Technical School. Ricki finished and graduated at Spotswood High School in 2004.
When he was little, all he carried around was his GI-joes and always said he was going to be an "Army man" some day, even though his dad caught him burning his army men in a candle, he always called him self GI-Joe. He loved to read and play video games and especially loved his comics. Ricki loved music and dancing and was really good at DDR. He loved animals and little children that he always seemed to get along with.
When he was 18 years of age, he joined the United States Marine Corps and entered on Feburary 14, 2005. Ricki has two brothers Thomas Michael Mazzeo and William James Mazzeo, and also has two sisters, Emily Rysinski . He was a good hearted person that would give you the shirt off his back just to keep you warm, he loved people and always forgave the ones who hurt him. Richard was a beloved son who never stopped trying to make his parents proud. Ricki was an older brother to look up to and a younger brother to be extremely proud of. All his life he wanted to make his parents proud and find a place to fit in. He felt he was going nowhere with his life, so he joined the Marines, which he had told people he wanted to do when he was younger.
After a few months at boot camp and year of training,along with close guidance from his Marine Corps superiors, he became the man he wanted to be, he had his pride, his dignity, and the strength to move on when ever something bad was dealt to him. Most of all, Ricki had alot of honor.
On September 29, 2006 Ricki was in a automobile accident in North Carolina, sitting on the back passenger side of a Jeep Wrangler. He passed away the next day, September 30, 2006, leaving many loved ones behind. He will be in our hearts and minds forever, MISSED AND LOVED BUT NEVER forgotten. He was part of the few, the proud, the Marines protecting our lives to keep us safe. R.I.P Ricki. We all miss and love you.
New Jersey Run for the Fallen ~ 2023 Click photos below to enlarge...
New Jersey Run for the Fallen ~ 2022 Click photos below to enlarge...