Leo Rodolfo Rossi

Leo Rodolfo Rossi 1940 - 2008 Leo passed away peacefully but not without a fight on July 21, 2008 at the age of 68 from heart failure. Leo was a true San Francisco icon. Born and raised in San Francisco he attended Galileo High School. His father owned the Rossi Family Ranch in Pescadero which still exists today. Leo worked alongside his grandfather and uncle at Iacopi Meats as a teenager delivering product to restaurants in North Beach which started what would become a lifelong career in the restaurant business. But along the road of life Leo tried his hand at several other businesses; he owned a motorcycle dealership in Daly City, one of the first scooter rental shops on Fisherman's Wharf simply using a gas station and a public telephone as his office. He was part owner of Roland's Jazz Club in the Marina and Rolando's in North Beach. He joined his mother and stepfather Stanley at Henry's Fashion Restaurant on California Street. In an adjoining space he built Big Cherry's Fish House, which he named after a movie he and his friend Enrico Banducci traveled to Hollywood to make but never saw the screen - but that's another story. In his later years Leo came full circle and purchased the Iacopi Meat Market on Grant and Union from his uncle from which he sold quality cheese, sausage and pancetta to Bay Area restaurants long before any of today's so called star chefs thought of it. Leo was preceded in death by his mother Bruna Iacopi Butovic who adored him. He is survived by his stepfather Stanley Butovic; loving companion, Kay and many, many lifelong friends. Leo was truly one of a kind. His gregarious personality and tempestuous nature will be missed by all. Friends and family are invited to attend the Viewing on Sunday, July 27, 4-8 pm at Green Street Mortuary, 649 Green St., SF. A Memorial Mass is set for Monday, July 28, 10 am at SS Peter and Paul Church. Private Interment to follow. A celebration of Leo's extraordinary life will be held at a local restaurant following the service.