Kelly Rizzo Has Gone from ‘Gut Punch’ to ‘Gratitude’ Nearly 2 Years After Husband Bob Saget’s Death (Exclusive)

Kelly Rizzo is “in a much better place” nearly two years after the death of her husband, comedian and actor Bob Saget.

The 44-year-old sat down with PEOPLE at Wednesday’s Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine tribute to Saget benefiting the Scleroderma Research Foundation to discuss her late husband’s legacy and how she’s been able to move forward two years after his death.

“I’m in a much better place now than I was at the very beginning,” Rizzo tells PEOPLE. “Every day, every month, it’s just progressing and developing and getting better. Sophomore year has definitely given me the ability to look at videos, look at photos and have memories of Bob where I can actually laugh and appreciate them and smile.”

“In contrast, every time I look at a video or photo, I feel like it’s tingling,” she continues. “I can actually appreciate those memories more.”

Bob Saget and Kelly Rizzo. Kelly Rizzo/Instagram Bob Saget’s life in photos

Looking back on her years with Saget, Rizzo says her greatest satisfaction is “gratitude.”

“For as long as I can remember when it all happened, my biggest thing was being so grateful for the time I had with him, instead of feeling robbed for the time we didn’t have together,” she explains. “So that really helped me get through everything. And I think that’s still the underlying message that carries me through every day.”

Some of those memories of Saget include his comedy career — something Rizzo says she’s “always been so in awe of.”

“To me, standup comedy is maybe the hardest job in the world…going on stage alone is terrifying,” notes Rizzo. “Having to make people laugh, for me, is the hardest thing you can do. And the fact that comedians do that, knowing that at some point they’re going to be even abused, they go up knowing that they’re going to bomb.”

She continues: “I’ve always been amazed by it [Bob’s] the confidence he had with his comedy. I mean, he just really brought it up. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, but he always knew that even if something didn’t work out, it still wasn’t a failure. So, for me, he was simply inspirational. And I was always so impressed with his ability to put everything out there, learn from it, and hone his craft. And he just made me appreciate comedy even more.”

From left: Aubrey Saget, Bob Saget, Kelly Rizzo and Lara Saget at a Scleroderma Research Foundation event. Leon Bennett/WireImage

Still dealing with the loss of her husband, Rizzo says she manages to find ways to smile.

“From day one, the day Bob passed away, I felt so comforted being surrounded by comedians,” the podcast host shares. “I still just watch his friends get up, watch his favorite shows, watch the shows we love together, that’s what comforts me and still makes me laugh.”

What you need to know about scleroderma, the autoimmune disease that Bob Saget battled before his death

Saget was found dead at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando, Florida on January 9, 2022. A month later, his family confirmed that he died of a head injury. He was 65 years old.

Before his death, Full house star worked for years to support the Scleroderma Research Foundation after his sister Gay died of the disease. He first supported the nonprofit in 1991, then became an outspoken advocate after Gay’s diagnosis.

He directed the TV movie from 1996 For Nada, about a young woman with scleroderma based on Gay’s experience, which helped raise awareness of the disease. He also served on the board of the Scleroderma Research Foundation for more than a decade and hosted their events for 25 years, including the annual Cool Comedy, Hot Cuisine fundraiser, where his comedian friends performed standup and attendees dined on meals from top chefs. Over the years, they have raised $25 million for research and treatment.

Bob Saget. Rich Fury/Contour/Getty Kelly Rizzo says she knew Bob Saget was ‘rooting’ for her at Special forces He gave her “a little extra sparkle” (Exclusive)

Wednesday’s event was no different. With Saget’s legacy at the helm, the fundraiser raised more than $1.2 million for the Scleroderma Research Foundation — something Rizzo tells PEOPLE “would have meant a lot to Saget.”

“It’s still very surreal that he’s not here at these events,” she says. “But I think they really captured the essence of it… Even the way the event looks, the colors, everything, it’s exactly what Bob would have chosen himself. So it’s still like he’s a part of it in some way.”

Rizzo continues: “And this goal meant everything to him. It was his life’s work. He devoted almost 30 years of his life to it since his sister died of scleroderma. So he would just be so honored and touched that people still care so much, that they still honor him, and come out and support the cause.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Click here to donate to the Scleroderma Research Foundation in Saget’s memory.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education