A WELL-KNOWN Newport restaurant owner has died aged 75.

Vittorio Rizza, of Rogerstone, owner of Vittorio’s Restaurant, Stow Hill, died while in his home town of Cassino in Italy after contracting pneumonia.

He had been in St Scholastica Hospital, Cassino, for about three weeks suffering from lung problems.

Mr Rizza died on May 11 and a funeral was held for him in Italy, but a memorial mass will now be held at St Mary’s Church, Stow Hill, next week for local family and friends.

Mr Rizza moved to Newport from Italy at the age of 23.

During his time in the city he had a number of food businesses, starting off with a fish and chip van which he used to drive all over Newport for two years.

He then owned Victor’s fish bar on Corporation Road for ten years and ran it with his wife Laura, 71, and his daughters Leandra Rizza, 49, and Anna Redman, 47.

He also owned a shop of the same name in Pill and the Copper Kitchen in Maesglas for ten years before opening his Italian restaurant Vittorio’s, which he ran with Mrs Redman, 25 years ago.

Mrs Redman will continue running the restaurant.

Miss Rizza said: “He was very charismatic and was the life and soul. He loved singing at any family occasion.”

Mrs Rizza added: “He had a real passion for food. He was very well-known in the community.”

Mr Rizza also leaves behind four granddaughters.

The memorial mass will be held at St Mary’s Church, Stow Hill, at 10am on June 21.