Abruzzo was born on May 19, 1963, to
Ben Abruzzo and Patricia Ann "Pat" Steen Abruzzo. In his home town of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, his business enterprises included real estate and ski lifts. The ballooning accomplishments of his father Ben, who was part of the balloon crews to first cross the Atlantic Ocean in the
Double Eagle II and the Pacific Ocean in the
Double Eagle V, encouraged Richard's lifetime of balloon accomplishments. In 1992 Richard flew the first gas balloon from North America to Africa breaking the distance record previously held by his father. He was a five-time champion in the America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race winning in 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, and 2004. The
National Aeronautic Association awarded Richard Abruzzo the
Harmon Trophy as the year's outstanding
aeronaut in 2001, 2003, and 2005. The 2001 Harmon Trophy was for the longest solo flight from
Albuquerque, New Mexico, to
Crawfordville, Georgia. The 2003 Harmon Trophy was for the first solo gas balloon transcontinental flight from
San Diego to the Georgia coast. ==Disappearance and death==