William Alfred Pizza

Our beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Friend, William Alfred Pizza, “Bill,” passed away peacefully, in his home, surrounded by his children, on August 28, 2025 at the ripe “young” age of 99. His alert mind and sense of humor were still keenly intact! Bill was delivered on the KITCHEN TABLE, in Scofield, Utah, on August 21, 1926. His dad, Frank, was born in Brooklyn New York, two years after his parents immigrated from Italy. His mom, Anna Mariani Pizza, was an Italian immigrant. Bill grew up the youngest of three kids in the Railroad towns of Carbon County with his brother Frank and his sister Marie. They had no central heating in their house, and their toilet was an outhouse. He remembers as a child they had very little money, but it didn’t matter, because nobody else had money either! When Bill was about 9 years old the family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. There Bill had his first job working as a “Newsie,” selling papers at the train station. He also had a paper route. He was a born salesman even at that young age. When Bill was around 12 years old his family moved to Salt Lake City. His mother wanted her children to receive a good education and felt it would be easier to obtain one in a bigger city. The family settled into the east bench of Salt Lake City, where Bill attended junior high and graduated from East High when he was 16 years old. He was always proud to be an East High Alum. He then enrolled at the University of Utah where he was on the University’s Runnin' Utes Basketball team.

Bill Loved and Excelled in all sports throughout his life. This was during World War 2, and young men were expected to enlist in one of the branches of the military before they turned 18 or they would be drafted. Bill enlisted in the Navy Air Corps. He did his basic training in Jacksonville, Florida, and Memphis, Tennessee, before he was chosen to go to Officer Training School in South Carolina and in Florida. While he was stationed in South Carolina, he attended the University of South Carolina and he played basketball for the Men’s Basketball Team. When he was transferred to training in Florida, he attended the University of Miami. After he was discharged, he returned to Utah and attended the University of Utah where he completed his degree. He then attended The American Institute of Foreign trade, now known as Thunderbird at ASU , in Phoenix, Arizona, where he received his Master’s Degree in Business. Upon graduation, he went to New York to begin a career as a foreign buyer for the B. Altman Company, however due to the Korean war, Bill returned to Utah. He ended up specializing in the furniture business. That was the path he pursued for the rest of his career.

Choosing to return to Utah was the best decision that Bill ever made! He met his wonderful wife, Glenna Raymond, shortly after returning to Salt Lake. They had their first sighting on an escalator in ZCMI and were married 8 months later on June 27, 1952. They bought their first home in rural Holladay on Memory Lane, which was a dirt road at the time. It was there that they built their lives and raised their family. They lived in this home for 62 years. They were blessed with four wonderful children, Lesli, Bill, Brad, and Kim. One of the most important days in Bill’s life he always said, was when he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bill and Glenna were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple, June 27, 1961.

Having grown up as a child of the depression, Bill was determined that he would be successful. He had learned from his parents the value of hard work, and he applied that to his life. He worked hard and he knew how to play hard also! He began his furniture career at South East Furniture in Sugar House. He initiated a company called Contract Interiors. It was a commercial arm of South East Furniture. He then formed a company called William Pizza Sales where he was a rep for large furniture companies. Bill loved people and he created lasting friendships in his professional life.

Bill was a very active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He exemplified many Christlike attributes in the way he understood people and how he treated them. He was involved in many organizations and had the opportunity to serve as a Bishop and also a High Councilman. He and Glenna served a mission to Temple Square and the Conference Center as well as serving in the Salt Lake Temple where Bill served until well into his nineties. He was sad to resign from serving at the temple when it was closed for remodeling. He had hoped to see it reopened.

Bill’s main joy in life came from spending time with his family and especially his wife Glenna. They loved doing things together and had a large circle of friends. They were avid sports fans and LOVED the Utah Jazz and any sporting event at the University of Utah. In 2007 Bill and Glenna were given “The Fans of the Game” award during half time at the University of Utah basketball game. They were huge supporters of their children and grandchildren’s activities. Everyone knew Grandma and Grandpa Pizza. They loved to go to baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and LaCross games, as well as dance concerts, piano recitals, and school performances. They were always together. They even watched FOX NEWS together! They participated in their McDonald's Breakfast Club together! You did not see Bill without Glenna, except when he was on the Golf Course. Bill was a lifelong member of Hidden Valley Country Club and played golf there until he was 95 years old.

Bill and Glenna had a wonderful love story that lasted for 72 years. During the last years of Glenna’s life, she required a lot of Tender Loving Care and Bill was an adoring caregiver. He exemplified selflessness and Christ like love. Bill loved his family, his wife, and his Heavenly Father. He retained his razor sharp intellect and sense of humor until the very end of his life and was such a model of keeping your spirit young by being interested in other people, and by making friends and by caring for people of all ages.

Bill is survived by his children: Lesli (Scott) Rice, Bill (Donna)Pizza, Brad (Lisa) Pizza, Kim (Chuck) Warren. His 19 grandchildren and their spouses, and his 36 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Glenna, his parents Frank and Anna Pizza, his Brother Frank Pizza, and his sister Marie Sciacqua.

The Pizza family would like to express their love and gratitude to the staff at the Cottonwood Ridge Assisted Living Facility for the love and friendship they extended to our dad. We would also like to thank Heidi Lawrence Woker and the staff at Suncrest Hospice. They treated our dad with such love and concern, and tender care.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday September 3rd, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Holladay 14th Ward Building.4917 S. Viewmont Drive, Holladay, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at the same location. On Tuesday evening September 2nd, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., a viewing will be held at Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 S. Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah.

A Zoom link will be added later today.