Pizza D'Oro to Close Tuesday in Honor of Late Founder DiPietro

will be closed Tuesday in honor of owner and founder Nicola "Nick" DiPietro, who died Dec. 12 at the age of 77.

Nicola DiPietro was born on May 25, 1934 in Abruzzi, Italy. The youngest of four children, Nicola grew up as an orphan having lost his mother to sickness at thee months old, and his father to World War II at age 9. Nicola’s childhood was spent searching for food, searching for a mother’s love and searching for a way to overcome the hardships of war-torn Italy. When he turned 18, his aunt Antoniette financed Nicola’s journey to America along with his older sisters, Maria, Angelina and Anna. With his childhood’s struggles behind him, Nick found a new and exciting life in America where he flourished.

DiPietro opened the first Pizza D'Oro in La Palma in 1968, using backpay he had received from a previous employer. He relocated to Costa Mesa in 1978 before opening the largest Pizza D'Oro in Fountain Valley in 1983.

DiPietro is survived by his wife Mary; four children, Nicolas, Mariam, Joseph and Phillip; seven grandchildren, Nina, Nick, Noah, Dominique, Frank, Elijah and Ashley; his sisters, Maria and Anna; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fountain Valley. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, also at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, with graveside service following at Good Shepard Cemetary in Huntington Beach.