Michael J. Riccio

Michael J. Riccio
Beverly, MA – It is with heavy hearts but unending love and gratitude for a long life well-lived that the five children of Michael J. Riccio announce his passing on February 7, 2022 in Beverly, Massachusetts. An Amsterdam, New York resident for nearly nine decades and its longest serving Police Court Judge in history, Judge Riccio was 95 years old. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 62 years, Rosalie A. Riccio, in 2017.
Mike was born in Amsterdam on April 20, 1926, the youngest of Mary Coluni Riccio and Michael Riccio’s eight children. Mike’s father passed away suddenly when Mike was just eight months old. His mother raised all eight children at their home on Vrooman Avenue until Mike enlisted in the US Navy in 1944 at age 18, joining his five brothers – Peter, Salvatore, Alfred, John and Louis – in active military service. The Riccio homestead on Vrooman Avenue would remain as the gathering place for birthday and holiday celebrations throughout the century, with Mike’s mother and two sisters – Filomena and Sophie – serving up Italian delicacies to a large extended family. Mike was predeceased by his siblings and their spouses, but is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Upon completion of his service in World War II, Mike began his legal studies, completing his undergraduate degree and earning his law school degree from New York Law School within an accelerated five-year period. In 1952, Mike began what would become a long and successful law career in his hometown, serving as confidential law assistant to New York State Supreme Court Justice Felix J. Aulisi for 10 years, practicing law with brother-in-law Gene L. Catena for 20 years, serving as Corporation Counsel for the City in the 1960s and being appointed as Police Court Judge in 1967(a position to which he was elected to five consecutive terms spanning nearly 20 years).Prior to his death, Mike was the oldest living member of the Montgomery County Bar Association. Admired by clients and courtroom participants, he was known for his strong character and for the temperament, patience, fairness and firmness required of a judge.
Beyond his service on the bench, Mike contributed heavily to his community and was generous of his time, serving as President of the St. Michael’s Holy Name Society and Columbian Club; Director of Montgomery County Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Heart Fund Drive, Red Cross and Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce and Salvation Army; leader of various community-raising drives (Community Chest, YMCA and St. Mary’s Hospital); and member of American Legion Post 701, AMVETS Post 21, Elks BPOE Lodge 101, Friends of Amsterdam Library and Boy Scouts Council.
There is nothing that made Mike prouder than the strong family he built with Rosalie since their marriage in 1954. He is survived by their three daughters, Maria and her husband Whitney Fast, Rosemary and her husband Carl Gardner, and Nancy and her husband Scott Hughes; and their two sons, Michael, Jr. and his wife Laura, and Felix and his wife Moira. Mike was especially excited by the lives of his 15 grandchildren, with whom he shared his keen sense of humor:Annie and Mike Fast; Grace, Claire and Jack Gardner; Ryan (Katie), Christopher, Abby and Scott Hughes; Emily and Ben Riccio; and Tommy, Andrew, Kate and Nicholas Riccio. Other survivors include Mike’s great-grandchild Lily Hughes, and Rosalie’s sister Nancy A. Catena, her brother Joseph G. Aulisi and his wife Marsha.
Mike enjoyed spending summer months with family at the camp on Sacandaga Lake and winter months with friends on Anna Maria Island, Florida. For the past eight years, Mike has resided at Coburg Village in Rexford, New York, Glenmont Abbey Village in Glenmont, New York and Colonial Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he made numerous friends.
Calling hours are Friday, February 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Riley Mortuary, Inc., 110 Division Street, Amsterdam. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m.at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Amsterdam, New York. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fort Johnson, New York.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mike’s memory can be made in support of Rosalie’s nephew, Dr. Tom Catena, at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan through the African Mission Healthcare Foundation at https://africanmissionhealthcare.org/donation/catena/ or alternatively, mailed to African Mission Healthcare, 101 North Woodland Boulevard, Suite 500, Deland, Florida 32720. In each instance, please reference that contributions are being made in honor of Michael Riccio to support Dr. Catena at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains.