Joe Migliucci was the friendly face behind the kitchen window every time we visited his family’s restaurant on pizza tours. Mario’s Restaurant began as a pizzeria in the early 20th century but transformed into a full Italian restaurant. Pizza is just a tiny part of the appetizer list, but it’s a link to the restaurant’s humble beginnings. I would take tours there every month or so and Joe always insisted on making our pizzas himself. He would welcome us into his kitchen, offer us tastes of his mozzarella, and let the kids watch him stretch the dough. It was really special and none of us who have experienced it will ever forget the generosity and kindness of Joe.
We lost Joe Migliucci in April, another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. His family are in our thoughts today as we remember Joe and all the other fathers we miss on the first Father’s Day without them.
