Dr. Nick Endrizzi, a well-known and much loved veterinarian, passed away earlier in 2014, but his support and that of his wife, Ann, for the causes about which they cared will live on. This is thanks to a new fund created with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation by their children.

Nick Endrizzi grew up in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He attended West Virginia University prior to serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After serving, he graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1950. Ann Mahoney grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1943. She worked as a laboratory technician at the
Battelle Institute of Technology and the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, where she met Nick.

Nick and Ann were married in 1951, and moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia. Nick established the Parkersburg Veterinary Hospital, while Ann managed the office accounts. Nick practiced large and small animal medicine until retiring in 1984.

"When the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) received a major bequest from Ruth Hornbrook, a leader in the humane society movement in our State, Dr. Endrizzi helped PACF form an advisory committee, comprised of veterinarians from throughout the state. This committee guides the making of grants from the Ruth Hornbrook Memorial Fund, which provides support to humane societies across West Virginia" said Marian Clowes, Senior Program Officer for PACF. "For many years, long past his retirement, Dr. Endrizzi chaired this important committee, providing leadership and direction that continues to shape how the Hornbrook Fund grants are awarded. He used his extensive network of contacts to involve additional veterinarians in the process. "

Nick and Ann were married for 58 years, and raised five children, Dr. Mike Endrizzi of Tampa, FL; Kathy Endrizzi of Columbus, OH; Nancy Endrizzi of Wheeling, WV; Mary Wright of Parkersburg, WV; and Emma O'Leary of Wheeling, WV. Nick was an avid golfer and farmer, and Ann enjoyed cooking and baking. They both delighted in their ten grandchildren. Ann passed away in 2009, and Nick, on March 24, 2014.

As Nick and Ann's birthdays were both in December, and in the spirit of giving that is Christmas, their children provided a gift to create the Dr. Nick and Ann Endrizzi Memorial Fund. Their children said that it was their parents' hope that others in need would benefit from their lifetime of hard work through a memorial fund. Nick and Ann were always faithful supporters of their parish church and its Catholic schools. Nick, in particular, was always very sensitive to persons in need, because his family struggled when he was a child. This new memorial fund with PACF is intended to continue the Endrizzi's legacy of generous giving for the causes that were most important to them. In honor and memory of Nick and Ann Endrizzi, the annual grants from this new charitable fund will benefit Parkersburg Catholic Schools, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, and the Salvation Army of Parkersburg.