Vincenzo “Papa Vince” Coppola, a pizzaiolo described as a “local legend” in Thorold, Ontario, Canada, passed away on January 5 at the age of 81. Coppola founded Papa Vince Pizza in 1985. “My father was an amazing man who worked so hard to create Papa Vince Pizza,” his son, Johnny … More

Fernando Riccioni became a partner with the founder of Wedgewood Pizza in the late 1960s and built it into a beloved brand known for the Brier Hill style of pizza. In a Facebook tribute, Riccioni’s family said the pizza patriarch’s “love for his business and his customers was never-ending.” Related: Domino’s … More

James Fox Jr., the founder of the Fox’s Pizza Den chain, passed away on May 21 after battling complications from a March 2021 car accident. Fox built his first pizza oven from spare parts he found in a junkyard and, in later years, helped with the development of the first … More

Dom DeMarco founded Di Fara Pizza in 1965 and became one of the world’s best-known pizzaiolos, personally handcrafting each and every pie to his own specifications. “Pizza has become a fast food,” he once told the New York Times. “My pizza is slow food. If I made it fast, it … More

Nancy Palese, who cofounded Nancy’s Pizzeria with her husband, Rocco, in the early 1970s, helped pioneer the Chicago stuffed pizza style. Nancy’s Pizzeria says Rocco invented the stuffed pizza when he set out to create a deep-dish version based on his mother’s Easter Pie. Related: How to make one of … More

Steven Balasco spent his childhood in a wheelchair and leg braces but later shed them to become a physically active business owner and community leader. After Balasco went to the hospital with COVID-19, his family and friends launched the Balasco Strong Campaign in his honor to promote acts of kindness. Steven … More

Jeff Bajalieh became one of Domino’s youngest franchisees before opening Slice Pizza & Brew with his brothers in 2010. Slice is famous for its Soul Pie, a southern-gourmet pizza topped with sausage, black-eyed peas and turnip greens, among other ingredients. Related: Slice Pizza & Brew makes every night a Friday … More

Arthur Galea, the founder of G’s Pizzeria, is remembered by his family as a man of “faith, honor and commitment.” After his wife Sharon’s death in 2010, Galea honored her every year with a 400,000-light Christmas display at their home in West Branch Township. Related: Gary Bimonte, grandson of Frank … More