Scott A. “Renzo” Renzoni, 53, passed away at home on January 9, 2025, in Lenox, Mass. Scott was born on December 2, 1971, in Burlington, Vt. He was the son of Ann (Bertrand) Renzoni and the late Robert Renzoni.
Renzo spent his childhood in Vermont and maintained a deep love for his home state throughout his life. He graduated from Rice Memorial High School in 1989 and Saint Michael’s College in 1993, where he earned degrees in English and drama. At Saint Michael’s he found his lifelong passion for the theater.
As an equity actor, Scott performed at numerous theaters in New England, including Shakespeare & Company, Majestic Theater, Lost Nation Theater, and Vermont Stage. Among many other roles, Renzo was lauded for his work in Judevine, a play by David Budbill. With David’s daughter, Nadine, he co-ran the literary estate of David Budbill and a Facebook page honoring the late poet and playwright.
In addition to practicing his craft as an actor, Scott loved teaching and sharing his knowledge and experience onstage with students.
Renzo was also an accomplished poet who published in multiple outlets. One of his more recent poems was selected for the 2023 Fish Anthology by former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins, with whom he had a close friendship.
Renzo’s love of the arts was built on a lifetime of voracious reading. He owned many hundreds of books and loved bookshops. In the 1990s, he worked at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, Calif., and over the last four years, he worked at the Bookstore in Lenox, Mass.
Scott was a practitioner of Zen meditation. He loved waterfalls and running water. He had a sharp, deadpan wit and did amazing impressions. He loved to make people laugh. One of the world’s great trivia mavens, Renzo was a four-time “Jeopardy!” champion in 2004.
A memorial will be held at Saint Michael’s on Sunday, March 9, beginning with mass at 11 a.m., at the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, followed by a celebration of life at the McCarthy Arts Center at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the theaters mentioned above, the Dodge Poetry Festival or the Vermont Zen Center.
“Be great in act as you have been in thought.” (William Shakespeare, King John, 5.1)
We met on the Jack Kerouac and Beat Generation Prodigy message boards in 1992 (along with Ann, Jay Marvin, and Vic). Renzo was a huge influence on my reading habits and writing life over the years. Love to all of his family and friends. – Queen Beat