EDWARD RONCARELLI

1932 - 2024

Ettore (Edward, Ed or Etti), Alessandro Roncarelli, age 91, died on March 19, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada. Ed was born in Milan, Italy, in 1932. Choosing not to live under the Mussolini regime, his father, Frank, and mother, Mimi, moved Ed and his brother, Robi, to Montreal, Quebec. After establishing a successful restaurant called Roncarelli's, Frank embarked on an unprecedented and triumphant civil lawsuit against the Quebec premier, Maurice Duplessis, for revoking his restaurant's liquor license. Ed's father made Canadian history and left his sons an enduring legacy. After graduating from McGill University, Ed became the consummate 60's, 70's and 80's ad man. He rose to remarkable heights in his advertising career, working across Europe, Canada, and the U.S.A. on accounts like Revlon, Chanel, Colgate-Palmolive, Esso, and Royal Bank of Canada. Ed was an engaging powerhouse of a man who made the most of his formidable charisma, wit, intelligence, and passion for business. He was a risk taker and, more often than not, a lucky one. He was a master of the 20-minute nap. His intellectual curiosity was insatiable. He read avidly and travelled to many countries on many continents. He was a gregarious man and engaged quickly with people he'd meet in cabs, on airplanes, in boardrooms or at social events on any topic in English, French or Italian. At night, he returned home to the love of his life, Heidi (Widmer), and his daughters, Sarah (Nickolas), Mary, Clare (Ralph) and Cassandra (Dave) McRae. On Saturday mornings, when his girls were sleeping off the previous evening's exploits, he blasted opera on his "stereo system." He wasn't the kind of man who sprung out of bed early on weekends to repaint the shed or fix that leaky kitchen faucet. Instead, he preferred to smoke cigars in the tranquility of his Toronto garden, sing along to ABBA, cook risotto, play backgammon for money, win at tennis, and drive around the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida, in his golf cart. He was fun and funny, always. His wicked and, at times, charmingly adolescent sense of humour was widely appreciated, especially by his grandchildren, Karis, Pat (Kylie), Jesse, Kaelen, Owen, Sydney and Logan, and, by reputation, his great-granddaughter, Aubrey. To honour Ed, his family will hold a small private event instead of a memorial or funeral. In lieu of flowers, Ed's family asks that you consider donating to the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa to acknowledge the extraordinary kindness, exceptional care, and great respect every healthcare team member showed Ed and his family.