Ignatius J. Rienzo

Ignatius Joseph Rienzo
Ignatius Joseph Rienzo, 98, of Hauppauge, New York, passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2026, surrounded by family. Born on February 10, 1928, and raised in Bayside, Queens, Ignatius lived a full life devoted to faith, family, education, and service to others.
Ignatius, or “Iggy” as he was known to friends and colleagues, was a graduate of Bishop Loughlin High School, Class of 1946, and earned a scholarship to attend Manhattan College for cross-country and track, Class of 1950. While at Manhattan he was a national champion in the 1500 and was later inducted into the Manhattan College Athletics Hall of Fame. Iggy earned his Master’s degree in Education from Hofstra University and dedicated more than 30 years to the Hicksville School District as a physical education teacher. Over the course of his career in education, Ignatius also coached track & field and basketball, mentoring generations of students, and served as a cross-country & track official for the Suffolk Officials for over 25 years.
He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War era, though he was never deployed overseas. He enjoyed retelling stories of mid-winter bivouacs on the frozen grounds of Fort Drum in Watertown, NY.
Iggy and his wife of 72 years, Maureen, grew up in the same neighborhood in Queens, but took different paths in their early adulthoods – Iggy to the Army and Maureen to a career in Manhattan. As fate would have it, Iggy happened to board the Q28 bus on his way home from Fort Drum, the very same bus on which Maureen was also commuting home from her job. And the rest is history.
A man of deep and abiding faith, Ignatius was an active member of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Smithtown, NY, where he sang in the choir and faithfully participated in the Holy Name Society and Nocturnal Adoration Society. His faith guided every aspect of his life and was reflected in the way he lived his life. He was also a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus Holy Mother Mary Council where he served as a Knight for over 50 years.
As the third of seven children born to Gertrude (Mangan) and John Rienzo, he had a close relationship with all his siblings that fostered Ignatius’ great joy in family gatherings. He also enjoyed bowling, playing cards, conquering the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle, and especially time spent at the beach with his family. He loved a good road trip in the family station wagon, and especially vacations at the ocean, and he passed that love on to his children and grandchildren, creating countless cherished memories by the water.
Above all, Ignatius was devoted to his family. In addition to his beloved wife Maureen (Keough) Rienzo, he is survived by his four children, Rita Rienzo (Elizabeth Roessler), James Rienzo (Sally Wright), Lucy Rogers (Gregg Rogers), and Justin Rienzo (Kate Howden); 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his youngest sister, Bernadette Rienzo of Washington, DC, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings Mary Elizabeth Noll, John Joseph, Aloysius, Gregory, and Francis.
Ignatius will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his dedication to family, and his commitment to teaching and coaching. His legacy lives on in the many lives he shaped and in the enduring love of his family.
Visitation hours will be Friday, May 15th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Branch Funeral Home, 190 East Main St., Smithtown, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Saturday, May 16th at 10:30 am at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 280 E Main St, Smithtown, NY. Burial immediately to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Iggy’s honor to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School at https://www.loughlin.org.