this is a photo of Gary Bimonte, who carried on the legacy of Frank Pepe in terms of New Haven-style pizza
Obituaries

Gary Bimonte, Grandson of Frank Pepe, Dies of a Heart Attack

Gary Bimonte was the youngest grandson of legendary pizzaiolo Frank Pepe, founder of Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. Bimonte spearheaded the Frank Pepe brand’s expansion and continued his grandfather’s legacy of delicious New Haven-style pizza. Related: How Frank Pepe’s chooses its tomatoes Gary Bimonte, the Connecticut pizzaiolo who carried his legendary … More

Obituaries

COVID-19 Claims Lives of Two Employees of the Same Pizzeria

Gus Karageorge, the manager of Linwood Pizza, and longtime pizza maker Manny Macancela, died of complications from the coronavirus within days of each other. The two men leave behind a combined seven children, and a GoFundMe page has been created to assist their families. Related: CDC study links on-premise dining … More

Obituaries

Sam Spera, Founder of Sam’s Pizza Palace, Dies at 92

Sam Spera immigrated to the U.S. with his wife, Anna, from Villalba, Sicily, in 1951 and quickly moved into the restaurant business. At times, he was so poor, Spera once said, that he slept in his shop under his pizza oven. Related: Click here for more pizzeria industry obituaries. Sam … More

Obituaries

Mario Caputo, Owner of Bell’Italia Pizzeria, Dies at 64

Born in Tolve, Italy, pizzaiolo Mario Caputo and his family moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, when he was 11 years old, and he soon embarked on a life of entrepreneurship. When his sister, Evelina, and childhood friend Paola decided to find Caputo a wife, he surprised them both by asking Paola … More

Obituaries

Joseph Piscopo Jr. of Johnny’s Pizzeria Passes Away at 49

Joseph Piscopo, Jr., the co-owner of the beloved Johnny’s Pizzeria in Mount Vernon, New York, passed away last week at the age of 49. Johnny’s Pizzeria is known for its cracker-thin crust, New York Yankees-themed décor and a strict cash-only policy. TV and film star Kevin James of “King of … More

Obituaries

Armando Pasetti of Volpi Foods Dies at 96

Armando Pasetti, the longtime leader of St. Louis-based Volpi Foods, died on Christmas Eve at the age of 96, the company announced. Volpi Foods is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated producer of specialty cured meats. It was founded in 1902 by John Volpi, Pasetti’s uncle. Pasetti came to St. Louis … More

Obituaries

Tom ‘The Dough Doctor’ Lehmann Passes Away from COVID-19

Tom “The Dough Doctor” Lehmann passed away on Saturday, December 12, after a lengthy battle with COVID-19. Recalling Tom’s life and unparalleled contributions to the pizza industry, a famous quote by Sir Isaac Newton springs to mind: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of … More

Obituaries

Detroit-Style Pizza Master Shawn Randazzo Passes Away at 44

Shawn Randazzo, the award-winning Detroit-style pizza maker and owner of Detroit Style Pizza Company in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, has passed away from brain cancer. He was 44 years old. A GoFundMe campaign for Randazzo’s family has been set up here. Randazzo was a beloved evangelist for the Detroit style of … More

Obituaries

Pizza Hut Cofounder Frank Carney Passes Away at 82

Pizza Hut cofounder Frank Carney, a pizza industry pioneer who later became a highly successful Papa John’s franchisee, has died of pneumonia at the age of 82. Carney had recently recovered from COVID-19, only to contract pneumonia at the assisted living center where he dwelled in Wichita, Kansas. Related: Read … More