Richard A. Prisco

Richard Allen Prisco (AKA: Rich, Richie, Richie Rich, Ricardo and Re) passed away Sunday morning, May 7, 2023 at 66 years old. He passed at his home in Fullerton with his wife, Debbie and his sister, Michele by his side. They had been caring for him in the weeks prior, when many family members stopped by his house to show their love for him. Rich had Alzheimer’s for almost nine years and had been doing okay with assistance from his wife. However, when he fell in his driveway and broke his hip in late February, he couldn’t really understand what had happened to him or how important physical therapy was after his surgery. He seemed to be doing okay at times, but he had lost a lot of strength and then lost his ability to walk or stand. After that, it just went downhill very fast.

Prior to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2014, Rich worked for Commerce Printers in Santa Ana, where he was a Pressman running a four color Heidelberg press. He worked for them over 23 years and he loved that job. Not only was he “The Best Printer in Orange County”, he had a great three day work week. He worked three twelve hour days and then had four days off. That gave him more time to spoil his wife, by doing all the shopping, cooking, car repairs, lawn work, etc. Rich and Debbie have been together for over 46 years and were married for 39 of those years. Their love for each other was obvious and they enjoyed doing everything together, just the two of them.

Richard loved his wife and his family deeply. He was also a good friend and neighbor. With his three day work schedule the ladies in the neighborhood knew that he was home and would help them, if needed. One lady told Debbie that she feels safer knowing that Rich is home during the day. He actually saved one neighbor’s house by calling the fire department, once he realized it was too much for him to handle alone. She called Rich over after she had locked herself out the backdoor while cooking something on the stove, which was now on fire. She insisted that he call her husband and wait for him to get home with a key, but he worked almost 30 minutes away and there was no time to waste. Rich was already calling 911. Thanks to his quick response, they only had minor kitchen damage.

He also loved sports and music. All kinds of sports. He loved the Angels, Lakers, Kings, and NY Giants, but we think he enjoyed horse racing the most. His favorite tracks were Santa Anita and Del Mar. Rich and Debbie went to Del Mar every summer for over thirty years. Some summers they would be down there almost every weekend. Life was good “Where the Turf meets the Surf”, as they say.

Honestly we wonder if Rich held on until May 7th, so that he could hear the Kentucky Derby races on May 6th. He wasn’t able to pick a winner that day, but we knew he was listening. That’s one of the reasons you’ll see lots of red roses at his service. The Derby had Red Roses everywhere when we turned it on that day and Rich’s favorite band, the Grateful Dead, also highlight Red Roses in their songs and band logos. So Red Roses it will be!

Rich was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 27, 1957 to his parents Ronald and Martha Prisco, who are 87 years old and living in Florida. He was only ten months younger than his older brother, Ron who precedes him in death, passing away at 64 years old in January 2021. His only remaining sibling is his sister, Michele who lives with her husband Jimmy in New Jersey. Rich is also survived by his wife, Debbie, his aunts, Barbara, Irene, Sandy and Liz, his uncles Bernie, Tommy and Howell, his cousins, Stephen, Darlene, Gary, Karen and Gregory, his sister-in-law’s, Kathrine, Tina and Lula, his brother-in-law’s, Jimmy, Will and Bryan, his nieces, Kimberly, Brook, Jasmine, Asia, Ashley and Lila, his nephews, Robert, David, Michael W., James, Everton, Michael P., Michael J. and Sammy. Along with numerous great nieces, nephews and friends.

Please join us in honoring Richard’s life at a Memorial Service to be held for him at Brown Colonial Mortuary in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 24th, 2023 at 10am. This is a service to remember and celebrate him, so please bring your favorite memory to share. A lunch reception at one of his favorite restaurants will be held following the service.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard A. Prisco, please visit our floral store.