Businessman and philanthropist Victor Cucci of Covington, who arrived in the small mountain community nearly penniless and later founded an Italian restaurant that became a local institution, has died.
Cucci died Thursday at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke after a brief hospitalization, according to his obituary and friends. His death resulted from natural causes, according to funeral director Anthony Lowry of Arritt Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. He was 68, his obituary said.
Vittorio Giuseppe Cucci, who was born in Carini, Sicily, and moved to Covington with his wife in his mid-20s, delighted customers for decades as owner of Cucciâs Pizzeria. Few local customers entered the establishment with green-and-white striped awnings without a spoken greeting from Cucci or a member of his family or staff. Few left without the satisfaction of a great meal, said friends, all fans of the eatery on Madison Street.