Condolences to the Rosati family on the unexpected passing of Rick Rosati (pictured below). The CEO of Rosati’s Pizza died at his Cave Creek home last week at age 70.
Jeff Rosati, the chain’s chief financial officer, says his brother had finished a normal work day at a new Valley location. He went to sleep that night and never woke up.
‘‘His heart gave out,” he says. “We’re not sure why.’’
The brothers’ father, Fred, and two uncles launched the pizzeria chain in Illinois in 1964. All six of Rick Rosati’s siblings, as well as many nephews and nieces, are involved in the company.
Rick Rosati, who started working for the chain at age 14, began an aggressive expansion through franchising in 1979.
The chain has grown to 200 locations in 15 states. It made its Arizona debut in south Tempe in 1986. Today there are 12 locations in the Valley.
“Without Rick we probably would have only two or three stores,” says Jeff Rosati, who will take over as CEO.
Fred Rosati died in the same Cave Creek home in March at age 102.
