Philip L. Rizzo, Ph.D., 86, a resident of Willow Manor, Germantown, Md., died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, in Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Rockville, Md.

Dr. Rizzo lived for many years in Wilkes-Barre, where he was a professor of literature and linguistics at Wilkes University.

Philip was born in Philadelphia on July 23, 1924.

An Army veteran of World War II, he served as a sharpshooter and mortar expert for the Glider Infantry.

Philip entered the University of Pennsylvania after the war and graduated from the college in 1948. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1947. In 1959, he earned his Ph.D. in British and American 19th and 20th century literature.

Dr. Rizzo retired from Wilkes University in 1982 and was named professor emeritus. After moving to Maryland, he taught courses at UMUC and Montgomery College and was the author of several works of fiction.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Marcia Blanco Rizzo; a son, Dr. Louis Rizzo, Potomac, Md.; a brother, Joseph Rizzo of Hershey's Mill, West Chester; and nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Philip's life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the East Mountain Inn, 2400 Route 115, Wilkes-Barre.

Memorial donations are preferred and may be made in memory of Dr. Philip Rizzo, C'48, Ph.D.'59, to The Campaign for Penn, University of Pennsylvania, Gifts Accounting and Administration, Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut St., Room 433, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205.