Vincent "Vinny" Randazzo

Vincent "Vinny" Randazzo, 62, of Syracuse, passed away on January 28th. Born on March 3, 1962, in Brooklyn, he was raised in Ridgewood, Queens by his parents Vito & Rosalie Randazzo. When he was 17, he moved to Syracuse to live with relatives, where he started work at Pavone's Pizza original location in Fairmount. This began a lifelong connection to the city of Syracuse and its people. He served generations of customers, friends, and family pizza throughout the city for 45 years. It would be nearly impossible to get pizza in the Syracuse area without seeing him or hearing his laugh at staples such as Pavones, Francesca's, or Mario & Salvos to name a few.
Vinny or "Legend" as he was known by some, was a man beloved and adored in the city that adopted him. Seldom could you be in Vinny's orbit in Syracuse where he wouldn't stop or be stopped by someone he knew. A friend who loved him, a fellow deadhead, or a customer he hadn't seen in 30 years, and picked up with them as if it were only yesterday. There was always a funny story that went with each encounter. An anecdote he could recite with incredible detail and humor, that he would appear to draw out of a hat for every person he would recognize or run into. He possessed an incredible gift of making even the slightest of acquaintances feel as if they'd known each other for years. For his friends and family, he would hold court and keep everyone in stitches. He also made a point, no matter the distance, to make his phone calls weekly to friends and relatives too far to bump into. Each encounter, regardless of familiarity, would end the same way: them walking away smiling, laughing, and feeling all the better for it. If he had wanted to run for Mayor, his opponent would have been at a significant disadvantage.
His influence wasn't limited to Syracuse either, it would even extend nationally. Vinny, much to the delight of his friends and family went "viral" by being perhaps the only person to steal the spotlight from Dave Portnoy on Barstool Sports One Bite Pizza Challenge on YouTube when they visited Francesca's in Liverpool where he was equally adored. It's an incredible piece of footage that all should enjoy.
Of course, to know "Legend" is to also know his deep love of the Grateful Dead. The enduring bond he shared with fellow deadheads and the Grateful Dead's music remained a constant within his life. It was a bond he would share (as is often the case with deadheads) with his son, Vincent. Vinny would later find himself the elder statesmen at shows with his son and his friends. All of them admiring the seasoned vet and "Legend's" many tales from the golden road. Like meeting Jerry outside of Radio City, or the excursions out west in 86, the beeping incident at Springfield 85 during "Estimated Prophet", and of course "Madison and State Street!" The many friends he toured with, the music of the great (and not so great) shows were stitched into his DNA. So well-known was Vinny and his affection for the band, that when Jerry Garcia passed in 1995, local news and radio affiliates were pointed in his direction by CNY DJ Dave Frisina and they called Vinny for his input. He could not be reached for comment. Too heartbreaking was the loss of someone he viewed as the embodiment of joy, adventure, and all good things. Today, across Syracuse and beyond, Vinny's family and his many many friends are feeling that exact same way. "There's no way to convey the loss" as Bob Dylan once spoke of Jerry's passing. "It just digs down really deep."
Yet, we will remember him in the same way he remembered us: By shooting the breeze, laughing, and having a good time. "Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile,"-The Grateful Dead
Vinny was predeceased by his parents, Rosalie and Vito Randazzo; and his sister, Catherine Randazzo.
Survivors include his son, Vincent J. Randazzo; sisters, Maria (Daniel) DeMonte and Antoinette (Charlie) Bay; his former wife, Maria Randazzo; nephew, Joseph DeMonte; niece, Cristina Bay; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; and countless friends.
Services will be held on Saturday, February 1st where family and friends may call from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at FARONE & SON, Inc. Funeral Home, 4899 W. Taft Road, Liverpool.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate.