SOUTHWICK – Deborah Gates Smith Randzio, July 5, 1948 – April 26, 2025. The youngest of four Smith siblings (Colby, Elaine, Maureen), Debbie grew up in State College, PA, where she enjoyed dancing and writing at Strawberry Hill, playing piano, and outdoor adventures with Girl Scouts. After high school, she reveled in music and American literature at Wittenberg College, OH. Her adventurous spirit and love of world cultures brought her to Ghana for student teaching, completing her BA in 1970. She moved to the northeast at age 23 to teach English at Granby High School, the start of a 35-year career sharing her love of life and literature with generations of students. She directed plays, sewed costumes, and went above and beyond to bring theater into school. Students remember her as a teacher who inspired curiosity, challenged the status quo, encouraged kids to live their dreams, and cheered them on into life beyond their hometown.
In her first month’s teaching, Debbie met the new math teacher, Albert Leon Randzio, and they embarked on a lifelong journey. This August would mark their 50th wedding anniversary. Together, Debbie and Al laughed heartily, performed in plays, hiked mountains, crisscrossed U.S. backroads, paddled rivers, sought out new musicians, caught all the best movies, and – in retirement – traveled the world. Above all, they poured their hearts into their three children, Jesse Albert Randzio (Temple, NH), Catie Colborn Randzio (d. December 26, 1980), and Kassia Colborn Randzio (Montpelier, VT). Debbie was scout leader, music lesson notetaker, church youth group activity planner, little league scorekeeper, band parent group president, and so much more.
Debbie wholeheartedly believed in service to community, working tirelessly to make the world a better place. At Church of the Atonement in Westfield, she joyfully sang in the choir for nearly 50 years, served on the vestry and as senior warden, ironed the linens, cooked shepherd’s pie for the soup kitchen, and helped launch and lead the Westfield Farmers’ Market. In Southwick, she volunteered for the rail trail, spoke up at town meetings, and most recently helped launch Southwick Land Trust in hopes that her home community would have the vision to preserve the farmland, treelined streets, and wild bits of forest that she so loved.
Celebration May 11th from 2-4 p.m., Stanley Park, Westfield. Funeral May 12th at 11 a.m., Church of the Atonement, Westfield. Please join her family in celebrating Debbie’s commitment to community by donating to Southwick Land Trust or Church of the Atonement, Westfield.
