People all over the world are mourning the loss of Astoria-born music icon Tony Bennett. Bennett died Friday morning, July 21, at 96 years old–just two weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
A child of immigrants from southern Italy, Bennett began his career performing as a singing waiter in Queens and continued to perform well into his 90s.
The New York City icon helped establish a high school that was dedicated to the performing arts–The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, which opened in 2009 at the Kaufman Astoria Studios complex after opening in a temporary location in 2001.
Bennett was a resident of 100 Central Park South for around 25 years, and was frequently seen around the area. His final performance was at Radio City Music Hall in 2021 alongside Lady Gaga.
“He was just elegant, and I think every age group loved him,” said Midtown resident Frank Dwyer according to CBS.
And here’s what some other New Yorkers had to say about the sad loss:
Senator Chuck Schumer stated he’s introducing a Senate resolution to declare August 3rd (Bennett’s birthday) as “Tony Bennett Day,” which Nancy Pelosi reportedly will also sponsor in the House.
Rocco Sacramone, owner of Astoria Italian restaurant Trattoria L’Incontro where Bennett sometimes dined, told the NY Post, “He didn’t have an air about himself. He was like a regular Joe. He would walk in and sit down [at] corner table [and would make chit chat]: ‘You from Astoria too?’ He was here a few times, [he ordered] red sauces [and] traditional plates.”
“I was thinking in my head this morning, maybe we should do something. Maybe a Tony Bennett-something pasta. He ate spaghetti with the house tomato sauce, he liked the house sauce that we have here.” Sacramone added.
“Godfather” actor Gianni Russo also recalled to the NY Post the first time he met Bennett at the Copacabana on East 60th Street in 1959. “I was 16. I was there for all the band rehearsals. He was so nice to me,” said Russo.
New Yorkers can even head to the Brooklyn Diner on West 57th, where Bennett was a regular, to sit in a booth named after Bennet and enjoy the menu item of his choosing–Tony Bennett’s Famous Thick-Cut Cinnamon, Raisin & Pecan French Toast.
“He was the sweetest, nicest guy you’d ever want to socially spend a couple of hours with. There couldn’t be a nicer New York kind of a guy,” said Brooklyn Diner’s owner Shelly Fireman to the NY Post.
And of course, fans of the singer can visit the Central Park bench dedicated to Bennett not far from where he lived on Central Park South. The bench was dedicated to Bennet in 2021 for his 95th birthday, and is now serving as a memorial for the late singer, featuring notes, flowers, and a photo of Bennett with his dog sitting on that very bench.