Romeo DeGobbi

Romeo DeGobbi, age 74 of New York, New York passed away on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. He had lived for many years in Ridgewood, NJ before moving to New York City just a few years ago.

The New York City restaurant industry lost a legend.  As a young Italian immigrant arriving in this country with little more than a heart full of ambition in pursuit of the American Dream, he began working in the restaurant industry over 50 years ago in Manhattan. His charisma led to a Maître-d position at Le Cirque where he established a reputation among the New York elite. He eventually opened and owned the world-famous restaurants LePactole in Battery Park and Limoncello in Times Square.  He was the type of person that if he set his mind to do something, nothing was going to stop him. He was like a machine; hardworking, determined, and committed. He did it all to provide a good life for his family.

Romeo had a magnetic personality that drew him to people. He loved people, loved to serve people, and he loved entertaining. He was generous to a fault, always giving people chance at redemption, and he never complained. He loved to entertain people at his home, and there was never a shortage of good food and hospitality! His children recall one Thanksgiving dinner where there was a strange man at their dinner table. Turns out, the man was a Lufthansa Airlines pilot that Romeo had met in New York City earlier that day. The pilot had a few hours before his next flight, so Romeo invited him to join his family and friends for their Thanksgiving feast! After dinner, the pilot took a taxi back to JFK airport, and they never saw him again! Romeo would open his home to anyone, graciously, not matter what.

Romeo’s family was his top priority. He loved his family more than anything in the world.  He worked tirelessly to give his wife and children everything he could. He provided a beautiful home for them, a summer home in Long Beach Island and many amazing trips to Europe. The story of his arrival in America is a unique one. Romeo was working aboard a cruise ship when he was just a young man of twenty-two years old. He was smitten by a cute passenger named Olivia, with whom he began to correspond over the next ten months. In May of 1970, he was able to come to America and visited with Olivia. Three months later they were married at St. Joseph’s Church in West Milford, followed by a three week honeymoon travelling cross country to California. They settled in Pequannock before living in Ridgewood from 1979 – 2007. Although their marriage ended in divorce, Romeo and Olivia remained devoted to one another. Olivia and their three children will tell you that you’ll never meet anyone like Romeo. He was the most generous person you would ever want to meet.  He was simply unforgettable and truly unique.

Romeo is survived by his beloved former wife; Olivia, their three children; Lauren DeGobbi of Pompton Lakes, Christian DeGobbi of Wayne, and Stephen DeGobbi and his wife Kim of Scotch Plains, and four grandchildren who adoringly called him “Poppy” and “Pop Star;” Robert, Sarah, Sam, and Millie.

In lieu of flowers, donations to ROAR, New York would be appreciated. Visit www.roarnewyork.org for more information and to donate.