[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E954-E955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING NICOLA DiCICCO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2003

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nicola DiCicco 
posthumously for his many contributions to the communities of 
California. As co-founder of the DiCicco's Restaurant chain, for the 47 
years, he and his family have provided countless citizens with 
hospitality and the most delectable food.
  On January 7, 1933, Nicola was born in the small village of Pacento, 
Italy, and lived there through World War II until the age of 16. With a 
brief stay in Caracas, Venezuela, Nicola came to America and settled in 
Detroit, Michigan. He later visited an uncle from his hometown in Italy 
who now lived in Fresno. The warm ambiance of the Mediterranean-like 
climate reminded him and his family of Italy, and they decided to move 
to Central California. On April 12, 1956, Nicola and his brothers, 
Albert, Roberto, and Frank, known as the ``Four Sons

[[Page E955]]

of Italy,'' opened the first DiCicco's Restaurant in Fresno. The 
brothers were famous for their sing-alongs with Italian songs played on 
the jukebox in their restaurant. Eventually, they would be accompanied 
by their younger brother, Paul, and would cook into the stomachs and 
sing into the hearts of the people of Fresno. In 1958, Nicola returned 
to Italy to marry his wonderful wife, Anna Vitucci. Ten years later, 
the DiCicco family opened their second restaurant in Fresno and then 
expanded to nearby Clovis.
  DiCicco family members now operate 18 restaurants in Fresno, Clovis, 
Madera, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Hanford, Visalia and one in Colorado. 
In addition, the family has spun off several other well-known local 
restaurants, including Vitucci's, Fratelli's, LaRocca's, Ovidio's, and 
Giulia's. Mr. DiCicco is survived by his wife of 44 years, Anna; his 
mother, Maria DiCicco; his sons: Pasquale, Giuliano, Vittorio, and 
Enrico; four sisters: Lucia Santeufemia, Josephine LaRocca, Giulia 
Paolilli, and Rosaria Defendis; three brothers: Paul, Frank, and 
Roberto; and seven Grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nicola DiCicco for the 
contribution of his many restaurants, for sharing the great cuisine of 
Italy with the community, and for the warm atmosphere which he and his 
family have provided in their restaurants for numerous years. I invite 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing Nicola, and in wishing his 
family many years of continued success.

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