Francesco ALONGI

ALONGI, Francesco
Aged 74, died on Friday, May 8, 2015, at his Vancouver home, after a long and courageous battle with complications arising from Congestive Heart Failure.
He leaves his wife Geraldine Frances Alongi; his only surviving brother Paolo Alongi; son Franco Alongi; daughter Elizabeth Alongi and his two stepchildren Rock and Rachael Punnett. He also leaves four step- grandchildren Marina, Freya, India and Hamish.
Francesco – an Entrepreneur, Epicurean and a true icon and Pioneer of the Food Industry – unsurpassed even today.
He was born on October 13, 1940 in Enna, a Medieval City in central Sicily. His father was the owner of the American Bar for the Grand Albergo Belvedere in Enna, where Francesco from the age of eleven years assisted in attending Bar and gained valuable experience in Wine, Spirits and Cocktails. When he was fifteen years old he commenced work at the Grand Albergo Belvedere as Comis of the Restaurant.
Francesco left Enna in 1957 and worked in Rome where he gained his initial experience in the food industry as Chef de Rang at several Hotels, including The Michelangelo, The Splendor and the Continental. During this period he had the good fortune to meet and be trained by several highly celebrated Chefs de Cuisine.
At twenty years of age he moved to Paris and worked as Chef de Rang at the Hôtel La Pérouse, where he gained considerable knowledge in gourmet cuisine.
In 1962 he was offered a Contract at the Savoy Hotel in London, but a close friend, living in Bournemouth, persuaded him to move there instead and to take a position as a Chef de Rang at that town's then five star Norfolk Hotel.
One month later, in June 1962, he met the 'love of his life', Geraldine. This has been much documented in a Documentary Movie, "Love Interrupted," which was televised Nationwide in Canada and also a Nationwide Radio Broadcast of the same title. A few months later Francesco asked her father, a Medical Doctor, for her hand in marriage, but was declined with the stipulation that Francesco must first become a great singer prior to Francesco receiving his consent. Geraldine's father accepted a position as Medical Officer in the West Indies and, being under 21 years of age, she was forced to accompany him and her mother.
Francesco was gifted with an extraordinary singing voice, a Tenore Robusto, and in later years, when he had his own Restaurant, on occasion would delight his Clients by singing at their table.
When Geraldine had sailed away on a Banana Boat, Francesco departed for Rome, determined to become a great Opera Singer. He held two positions to pay for lessons with various Maestros of high calibre, including the Vocal Teacher of Giuseppe de Stefano, but due to Geraldine's departure, he was unable to concentrate, and gave up singing for a lengthy period.
In July 1964, Francesco immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, securing a position as Chef de Rang at the prestigious Vancouver Club and later The University Club, Vancouver, as Maître d'Hotel from 1966 to 1968. In April 1968, he left Canada for Edinburgh, Scotland, working at his Cousin's Restaurant, 'Caprice', as Restaurant Manager. The General Manager of The University Club in Vancouver had been so impressed with Francesco during the time he had worked there that he repeatedly wrote and phoned, asking him to return to work at The University Club, but without success, until he flew to Edinburgh to meet with Francesco and was finally able to persuade him to return to Vancouver.
He arrived in Vancouver in October 1969, accompanied by his wife, whom he met in Scotland, whilst working there and taking up the position as Maître d' and Assistant Catering Manager. Whilst he was there, he met Umberto Menghi, who asked Francesco to work in his new Restaurant, 'Umberto Restaurant', known as 'The Yellow House'. He held the position of Maître d' and General Manager in 1973 for two years.
In 1975 Francesco opened his own Restaurant, 'Francesco Alongi Ristorante'. Major Celebrities, mostly from the United States and Europe, came to dine and listen to Francesco sing Operatic Arias and well-loved Neapolitan Songs. Many repeatedly returned, including Liberace, Luciano Pavarotti, who joined Francesco in singing Duets, and Dame Joan Sutherland, Charlton Heston and the then Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. His guests aptly named it "Restaurant to the Stars." Finally the inability to renew the lease persuaded Francesco to close the restaurant in 1990. Almost a quarter of a century later, people still recall fond memories of his restaurant, his natural charisma together with his warm and generous hospitality.
In 1990 Francesco returned to work in Umberto Menghi's employ as Manager at his Restaurant 'Il Giardino' in Vancouver, but many years of toil and stress produced a major heart attack in 1994, undergoing eleven hours of open heart surgery with a quadruple bypass, soon followed by a stroke.
In 1997 Francesco and his wife were divorced, and he remained at 'Il Giardino' until June 2002. He once again opened his own Restaurant, but much larger and in a higher profile location. On August 16, 2002 the doors opened at the now famous 'Don Francesco Ristorante', on the 800 block of Burrard Street. In June, two months prior to the opening, Francesco and Geraldine were reunited, having had no communication in four decades, and were finally married in December 2002.
His new Restaurant became as popular as his original enterprise. Word spread at a rapid pace throughout the City of Vancouver and its Environs, to way beyond the horizon. Don Francesco Ristorante was soon to be 'the talk of the town'. He trained his Staff in the impeccable style of 'The Old European School', and was frequently complimented on the excellent service and haute cuisine. Francesco took photographs of the many celebrities who visited, including Robin Williams, with whom he struck up a personal friendship, Debbie Reynolds, Pierce Brosnan and countless others. Francesco placed these photographs on a wall of his restaurant, which he named 'The Wall of Fame', and in time it overflowed to other walls.
It was with deepest reluctance that Francesco placed Don Francesco Ristorante on the Market. It was sold on January 25, 2013, Francesco having injected his strength and indomitable spirit, creative talent and artistry, but his seriously deteriorating health was the deciding factor.
However, he had given birth to a legacy, and if he was not so humble a man, he would have been justified in being proud of his many achievements, but that was not his way. Francesco had such a big and generous heart, and ironically, it was this same heart which failed him at the end.
The name, Francesco Alongi, will survive in the hearts and minds of his family, his loyal Staff, his many friends and his countless appreciative patrons – perhaps for decades to come.
Viewing and Visitation for those who wish to pay their last respects to Francesco – Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3M1.
Funeral Service on Friday, May 22, 2015 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richard Street, Vancouver, B.C.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, donations would be gratefully received to either of these named charities:
'Critter Care Wildlife Society', Langley, B.C. or 'CNIB – Guide Dog Assistance Fund, B.C.'
Burial Service will be private, wishes expressed by the family.