Incredible lifetime legacy left behind

By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

Former longtime State Sen. Richard T. Mazza, D-Colchester/Grand Isle, who resigned last month due to health issues, died at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester on Saturday.

Mazza built a lifelong reputation for honesty, kindness, ethics, humor and philanthropy – often behind the scenes and unknown to many.

There are no visiting hours. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Malletts Bay. A celebration of life will be held immediately after at the Miller Building at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction.

The family requests all flowers be omitted due to serious allergies by family members. Memorial contributions on behalf of the senator may be made to Colchester Rescue, 687 Blakely Road, Colchester, VT 05446, or to the McClure Miller Respite House via the Jiggety Jog team ‘Legacy of Love’ fundraiser.

“I am heartbroken at the loss of my very dear friend, mentor and long-time colleague, Senator Dick Mazza,” Gov. Phil Scott said Sunday.

“My thoughts go out to Dolly, Mike, Melissa and the entire Mazza family, as well as his ‘family’ at the store and in the Senate. He left a mark on everyone he met, so I know this loss will be felt across the islands and the state,” Scott said. 

“A lot has been said of his legacy, and his unmatched public service. He earned and deserved every word and every bit of credit for all he’s done for Vermont,” the Governor noted. 

“In a world that has become so politically divided and full of hate, Dick Mazza stood out like a shining star – an icon of decency, hope and humor. His impact will be felt for generations to come, and he will be greatly missed,” Scott said

He said in honor of Mazza, he is ordering all flags in Vermont to be flown at half-staff on Thursday – the day of his funeral.

Mazza’s 39 years representing his hometown of Colchester and Grand Isle County in the Vermont Senate is the second longest term served by a senator in state history.

He had earlier served four years representing Colchester in the House – succeeding his father, Joe.

Mazza, 84, had hoped to finish the final year of his senate term, but his pancreatic cancer took its toll, and he resigned April 8. Mazza said he wanted to ensure the Grand Isle/Colchester Senate District had full representation in the final months because of several critical issues, including a handful of troubling bills facing vetoes.

The cancer and a series of falls, including a broken hip proved to be too much in the end and he resigned. He later moved into hospice care at Respite House.

Scott, a Republican, often said he was mentored by Mazza, a Democrat, when he joined the Senate in 2001 and remained a close, longtime friend after moving on to be lieutenant governor and governor.

While in different political parties, the two men tried to stick to the middle of the road and avoid the extreme position sometimes expressed by their  parties.

Gov. Scott appointed Andy Julow of North Hero last week to fill Mazza’s seat until early January when the two-year term expires. Julow will take part in a special session in June called by Democrats to try to overturn some of the vetoes issued by Gov. Scott.

Mazza operated a popular general store on West Lakeshore Drive in Malletts Bay that his father, Joe, founded 70 years ago. After graduating from Winooski High School, Dick Mazza was due to go to St. Michael’s College, but he balked at the last minute. He was afraid his father would be forced to close the grocery store without his son putting in his work hours.

Mazza often said his store was the best place to get the pulse of taxpayers. When not in Montpelier, Mazza could be found working the cash register, the meat counter or filling display shelves at the store.

Mazza was in his prime while in his back office where he conducted the business end of his operations, but also would hold court. Mazza would be talking about politics and swapping jokes. Governors, state and local politicians, celebrities, reporters and residents would stick their heads in for good conversations. The jammed-packed office was filled with photographs, newspaper clippings, license plates, model cars, filing cabinets, gag jokes aimed at Mazza and more.

And visitors knew their time was up when Mazza stood and began to walk away – often to start work on salads or to box the fresh-made pies his store is known for selling.

The Mazza home is attached to the general store. It is where his wife of 58 years Dolly – who is known internationally for her hand-designed jewelry – and the senator raised their two children, Mike and Melissa.

Mazza was well known for being among the best legislators through the years in providing constituent services in Vermont.  When state senators all got email accounts, he resisted and said people could always call him or stop by.  He said he liked the personal touch and always called back constituents – no matter the topic.

“Each of those days I considered it an honor that Vermonters have trusted me with their stories and had faith that I would act on their behalf, regardless of party affiliation or politics,” Mazza said in his resignation letter.

He held several longtime legislative posts, including Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, which meets mornings, and Vice Chair of the Senate Institutions Committee, which meets afternoons.  Mazza also had been since 1997 the third member of the powerful Committee on Committees, which makes many of the key assignments and appoints the chairs.

There was some question whether Mazza would run two years ago, but when 11 of the 30 senators did not seek re-election, he was among several senior members agreeing to stay on. This time there will be at least five new senators elected this fall.

Mazza, a lifelong Democrat, also often won the Republican Senate nomination when the GOP frequently failed to field a local candidate. Mazza was known to avoid the extremes of the two political parties and aim for the middle of the road for topics important to Vermonters. Colleagues said Mazza knew how to build consensus – a rare trait in the current widely divided legislature. He had the ability to work across the aisle.

He has been active in community work, serving on the Colchester Senior Citizens Housing Project, including as president. He also was a longtime member of the board of the Champlain Valley Exposition, Visiting Nurse Association and Friends of the Burnham Memorial Library in Colchester.

Mazza received many other awards, including Vermont Grocer of the Year and the Citizen of the Year.

Earlier this year the Colchester Selectboard, on behalf of the community, voted unanimously to honor Mazza by naming a road after the lifelong public servant, businessman and legislator.

Dick Mazza Drive is now the name for the access road to the town’s new indoor recreational center, which is currently under construction off Blakely Road.   The $15.9 million center is on a 14-acre town-owned parcel across from the entrance to Colchester High School.