Beloved Domenico De Marco, otherwise nicknamed ‘Dom,’ has been serving up delicious pizza in NYC since 1965.
However, heartbreaking news was made earlier today by his daughter, Margie DeMarco-Miele, announcing her father’s passing on Thursday at the age of 85.
The legendary owner of Di Fara Pizza had first emigrated to Brooklyn from the Province of Caserta in Italy nearly 60 years ago, and has forever left his mark on the NYC pizza scene.
“He was the hardest working man I know and he was a leader and will remain a leader through his legacy,” shared Margie on social media.
Dom had spent over 50 years working his pizza to perfection, and continued to help out in the kitchen well into his 80s. The pizzeria’s recipe takes pride in simplicity with imported ingredients from Italy that make it absolutely unmatched.
“It’s pizza that’s big and bold, rough around the edges, and more than a little messy; it’s what New York–style pizza is all about. And yet the real star of the show here is not the pie but the pie man — octogenarian Domenico DeMarco, pretty much a one-man pizza machine who produces every pie himself,” reported The New Yorker years prior.
As of now, no cause of death was declared, but the DeMarco family and Di Fara Pizza have received an overwhelming outpour of love since the news broke.
“You single-handedly turned the pizza world upside down. You set the standard, and trails of success for so many of us. We were blessed to have you for as long as we did, and now you’re in a place where they have been waiting so patiently for you,” Mark Iacono, the owner of Lucali, wrote.
Even Mayor Eric Adams shared his condolences on Twitter saying “Dom DeMarco was a legend. He brought a little slice of Caserta from Italy to New York City. His legacy will live on anytime someone picks up a pie from.”
The family owned and operated pizzeria has truly lost a legend. Dom will be forever missed by New Yorkers who were fortunate enough to know his charismatic self and to enjoy his unforgettable pizza.