Blind Chicago writer, philosopher, insurance salesman and one-time inmate of Statesville prison.
Matt Rizzo (birthname: Mariano Rizzo) was born in Chicago on September 20, 1913, one of seven children. He dropped out of school in the 4th grade to make money for his family, working at the Nabisco cookie factory and helping his father, a fruit vendor, and later working as a golf caddy at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. In 1935, at age 22, Rizzo was shot and blinded while robbing a liquor store with two friends on the northwest side of Chicago. He was sentenced to ten years at Statesville Prison, in Joliet, Illinois, eventually serving five and a half years. While an inmate at Statesville, Rizzo met Nathan Leopold, who, in Chicago in 1924, murdered a fourteen year old boy with friend Richard Loeb in what was called the "crime of the century." Rizzo and Leopold became friends while both were confined to the prison's infirmary - Rizzo because the gunshot wounds resulting from the attempted robbery were still healing, and Leopold for protective purposes, because friend Loeb had just been murdered by a fellow inmate. Leopold learned the Braille system of reading and writing, in order to teach it to Rizzo. Leopold also guided Rizzo in a study of classic literature and philosophy, an interest of Rizzo's before his incarceration, requesting books in Braille for Matt to read: books which, Leopold later wrote, he was also able to read at night, when the lights went out at the prison. Upon his release from Statesville, Rizzo became an insurance salesman in Chicago, married and had a son, Charles. Shortly after the birth of his son, Rizzo and his wife separated, and she moved with their infant son to Los Angeles. Upon her death in 1959, young Charlie moved back to Chicago to live with Rizzo, sharing a one-bedroom apartment. According to Charlie, Rizzo spent his evenings reading classical and other texts, then composing his own thoughts on the works using a Perkins Brailler - a typewriter used to create Braille text - and a tape recorder. Rizzo also composed several of his own original works, including essays on organized religion and atomic warfare, as well as poetry. Rizzo sent some of his texts to universities seeking commentary and publication, but none of his works have been published to date. He was also a regular caller into several talk radio shows in Chicago, including The Studs Terkel Program. Rizzo died in Chicago on August 23, 1987.
From the description of Matt Rizzo papers, ca. 1940s-2002. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 758127234
