Community gathers to remember beloved pizzeria owner
Aug. 30—Dana Zito still spends many nights in her late husband's pizzeria, where he was a fixture in the Southeast Albuquerque community for 35 years.
"I just feel a lot of happiness in here still," she said. "Even without him, we're lucky that it just keeps us going."
Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Rosario Zito, who was killed in a robbery-turned-shootout. Police say he died after exchanging gunfire with Sylvan Alcachupas, who was attempting to rob Zito's employees. Alcachupas is awaiting trial in the case.
The beloved pizzeria owner, 57 years old at the time of his death, was celebrated by his family and the community on Wednesday night at his restaurant, Giovanni's Pizzeria, near San Pedro and Gibson.
It was standing room only in the dining room, where every chair was full, every table was packed and the walls were adorned with photos of Rosario with friends and family. The air was filled with laughter and conversation, all shared over plates of food.
This was just the way Rosario would have wanted it, his widow said.
Rosario Zito was known for his signature greeting of "Hey, how you doin'?" His wife remembers him has a gregarious, fun-loving guy who welcomed everyone into his restaurant.
"We would just tell everybody to just get inside and eat, you know? Just eat, relax," she said.
Rosario, the son of Italian immigrants, moved from New York to Albuquerque with his family when he was a teenager. He took an interest in making pizza, so his parents decided to open the pizzeria, which was named for his father. It was soon a gathering place for good food and good company.
Zito took over the restaurant after his parents retired.
Todd Kersting, Rosario's brother-in-law, said Zito loved being a member of the community, and the support they've received shows how much the community loved him back.
"He loved being the heartbeat of this neighborhood," Kersting said. "And the families, friends are just great to continue to show up and continue to enjoy the food and to honor Rosario."
A candlelight vigil was held in his honor and the Rev. Hyginus Chuks Anuta of Holy Ghost Catholic Church blessed both Rosario and the restaurant.
The pizzeria now has a fresh coat of paint in the dining room and continues to do business. Dana Zito initially didn't want to open ever again, but she credits the staff and the memory of her husband as the reason why she changed her mind.
"These guys are like, 'Rosario would want us to keep going,'" she said. "So I just said, 'OK, I gotta do it.'"
Despite the tragic events of a year ago, Dana Zito said she couldn't imagine her life being any other way: spending her days in the same restaurant where her husband spent so much of his life.
"This was home to him," Zito said.
