Pizzeria operator, dead after motorcycle crash, was 'big-hearted guy'

PORT ST. LUCIE − A man who died after a Friday traffic crash was identified as Armando Balzano, who opened Fratelli’s Pizzeria with his brother in recent years.

“Life of the party,” Balzano’s brother, Domenic Balzano, 43, said Monday. “Always goofing off ... big-hearted guy.”

According to Port St. Lucie police, a 38-year-old man rode a Suzuki motorcycle east on Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard as a Ford Explorer turned west onto Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard from Southwest Aster Road. The vehicles collided, and police went to the scene at 10:16 p.m. Friday. The motorcycle rider died after being taken to a hospital, while the Ford driver was not hurt, police said.

Domenic Balzano identified the deceased as his younger brother, Armando Balzano. Domenic Balzano said his brother had been at work.

Fratelli’s Pizzeria, which the siblings opened about three years ago, is a short drive away in a plaza on Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard. Fratelli means brothers in Italian.

Domenic Balzano said his brother typically didn’t take the motorcycle out at night.

“He just took it that night because it was great weather out,” Domenic Balzano said. “It wasn't raining.”

Armando Balzano was single with no children, his brother said.

“Lived life to the fullest, for sure,” Domenic Balzano said.

Domenic Balzano spoke in Alphonso’s Pizza & Pasta, which he said is owned by his father. The family is heavily involved in the pizza business, he said.

Domenic Balzano said the family is from Naples, Italy, and moved to the United States in 1986. He said his father was a truck driver in Italy, and eventually opened a dozen pizzerias in the area.

Domenic Balzano said his brother was a skilled soccer player growing up, and they were competitive.

Meanwhile, at Fratelli’s Pizzeria on Monday, a hand-written sign taped to the door read, “We are closed due to death in the family.” A small collection of flowers, a bottle of vodka and a tequila box sat to the right of the door.

Joe Franco, 64, pulled up before lunch time, and said he was coming to get a pizza.

“This is terrible,” he said. “I've probably known them seven, eight years.”

Franco said he came to Fratelli’s or Alphonso’s three times a week.

“It's so good,” Franco said. “I just get a regular cheese (pizza).”

Franco noted the family is from Italy and the pizza is “phenomenal.”

“Closest you're going to get to an Italian pizza,” he said. “They always treated people very nicely.”

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Domenic Balzano said it will take a week to determine what will happen with Fratelli’s.

Armando Balzano worked in his father’s restaurant for about nine years before they opened Fratelli’s.

Domenic Balzano said his brother was considering selling it, noting he was “ready to move on to the next venture.”

Armando Balzano was a “great-hearted guy that would do anything for anybody,” his brother said.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Armando Balzano, 38, dead after motorcycle crash in Port St. Lucie