Anastasia “Star” Rizos, 60, of Litchfield, NH, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2024. Star was born in Nashua, NH and was the daughter of the late Demosthanes and Eleanor (Cashiona) Rizos.
Star grew up in Litchfield, NH and was a member of St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church of Nashua, NH. In 1984, Star graduated from St. Anselm College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in biology, 1986 from Rivier College. For the next two years, she taught anatomy and physiology at both colleges.
A month before starting medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, her father passed away. After four years of medical school, she began her four years of residency training at UMass Medical School in Worcester, MA in adult psychiatry. After her residency finished, Star began her career as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in 1998. She worked at UMass Medical Center until 2017, specializing in inpatient psychiatry. For the remainder of her career, she worked in outpatient facilities in both MA and NH, retiring in 2023 due to serious health issues.
Star was close with both of her parents and her maternal aunt, Katherine Cashiona. She loved pets, especially her dog Bella. She travelled frequently to Greece, specifically to her father’s region of Macedonia and Larissa. Star was extremely proud of her Greek/American heritage and spoke and wrote Greek fluently.
Star had many friends, and she had a reputation of working on many of the most difficult cases during her time at UMass. She loved the Patriots and always tried to watch all their games. She will be missed very much by her coworkers and her longtime friends here and in Greece as well.
Family and friends are warmly welcomed to attend a funeral mass at St. Philip’s Greek Orthodox Church 500 W Hollis St, Nashua, NH 03062 on Saturday February 24, 2024, at 10am. A burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashua.
Donations may be made toward Star’s GoFundMe to help assist with the costs associated with her burial. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lay-our-beloved-angel-to-rest
