Lawrence Bertolucci

Lawrence Bertolucci January 3, 1924 - August 14, 2010 Famed Peninsula Restaurant owner Lawrence (Larry) Bertolucci and long time Hillsborough resident died peacefully in his sleep last Saturday evening in the presence of his two granddaughters and his caregiver Cynthia all of whom were by his side. Larry is survived by his daughter Marcia Melnikoff and son-in-law Fred Melnikoff of San Carlos, granddaughters Melissa Melnikoff of Burlingame and Cristina Melnikoff of Redwood City, sister Lola Bertolucci Fox of San Mateo, nephews Dennis Bogdan of San Jose, Mark Bogdan of Spokane, Washington, Gary Bertolucci of Chicago, Lawrence Urrutia of Maxwell, California, nieces Teresa Holman of Colusa, California, Veronica Tofflemire of Hillsboro, Oregon, sister-in-law Carmen Urrutia of Maxwell. Larry's Father and Mother opened Joe's Blue Room in South San Francisco in 1928, a family style Italian restaurant who also fed and boarded the local steel workers of the day. Larry was trained as a carpenter and wanted to be a contractor, but was lured into the family business by his father. In 1962, the restaurant was rebuilt on the site of Joe's Blue Room and the name was changed to Bertolucci's Restaurant, where Larry and sister Lola ran the business until their retirement and eventual sale in 2005. The restaurant was a favorite spot for local sports figures, celebrities and dignitaries passing through town, as well as many local regular customers. Larry was a long time member of Green Hills Country Club where he had many friends, good times and was able to pursue his lifelong passion for golf. This passion for golf also led him to acquire a second home in the southern California desert communities of Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, where he and his wife Josephine played host to family, friends and local celebrities. His wife Josephine died in 1982. In his younger days, Larry was a body builder and also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Throughout his life, Larry considered his family his most prized possession. Friends and family are invited to visit at 3:00pm with the rosary at 7:00pm at Crosby N. Gray Co., in Burlingame, Ca. on Thursday, August 19, 2010. Funeral Mass will be at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame on Friday, August 20, 2010 at 10:00am. Entombment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.