Richard (Rick) R. Tozzi passed away peacefully from this life on November 14, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. Rick was born June 27, 1941 in Bronx, New York, the only child of Aurellio and Margaret Tozzi. After graduating high school, Rick joined the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas where he achieved the rank of E5, Sergeant. Following his military service, he moved to Edmond and worked in various positions in the data processing industry while attending school at night to attain a college degree. He received a B.S. degree in Accounting (cum laude) from Central State College (now UCO) in 1969 and became a Certified Public Accountant in January 1974. He accomplished both goals while helping to raise three daughters, Dina, Anna and Donna. He worked for Arthur Young and Company from 1970 to 1979 in Oklahoma City and then served as President of Aftec and Vice President of Buckeye Federal Savings & Loan from 1979-1981 in Columbus, Ohio. It was there in 1980, Rick met his wife Brenda. They married in January 1981 and moved to Tulsa where Rick served as CFO at Adams Exploration Co. Rick accepted the position of CFO at Ward Petroleum Corporation in 1984 and moved with Brenda to Enid where they started their family. The Tozzis had two children, Anthony Burton Tozzi and Victoria Marie Tozzi. Rick remained at Ward Petroleum Corporation until retiring as Executive Vice President in 2015. Following retirement, Rick and Brenda moved to Tampa, FL for a couple of years, before returning to Yukon to be close to family. Rick loved life. He was outgoing, generous with his time and talents and will always be remembered for his wit, work ethic, kindness and genuine concern for others. Rick had a passion for hunting deer, geese, quail, ducks and pheasant, which he happily shared with his son. He enjoyed hunting trips to Argentina and Mexico. Rick was an excellent shot and actively participated in shooting sporting clays, trap and skeet. He also enjoyed vacationing at the beach, requiring only a good book and lots of sunshine. One of Rick’s greatest talents was his ability to cook amazing Italian dinners. He was well known for making large quantities of homemade tomato sauce to be used in a multitude of different dishes. His Caesar salad always exceeded expectations. He shared his cooking talents by preparing meals for major fundraising events for United Way, American Red Cross and Leonardo’s Children’s Museum. Rick served on numerous boards, including as President of the Grand National Quail Club in 2007 and on the Executive Board for many years.
Rick is preceded in death by parents Aurellio and Margaret Tozzi and son Anthony Tozzi. Survivors include wife Brenda, daughters Victoria Frame (Michael), Dina Lippert (Ken), Anna Cowan (Cliff), Donna Mesigh (David) and grandchildren Kali McNeely (Ryan), Chance Tipton, Alexa Cowan and Beckett Frame. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Anthony Tozzi Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund at The Amarillo College Foundation. P. O. Box 447, Amarillo, TX 79178. Visitation will be between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, November 19, 2021 at Yanda and Son Funeral Home, 1500 W. Vandament Ave., Yukon, OK. Family will be in attendance between 4 p.m. and 5 pm. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 at Church of the Resurrection, 13112 N. Rockwell Ave. #2700 in Oklahoma City. Interment will be private. Online condolences may be signed at www.yandafuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, OK.
