Family, friends and staff mourn the passing of Emil Tosi, founder of Tosi's Restaurant Emilio Garibaldi Tosi, founder of Tosi's Restaurant, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, July 17, 1999. He was 84 years old and had been in failing health for some time. Click here for a historical timeline of Tosi's Resturant Emilio Garibaldi Tosi was born to Anthony and Henrietta Tosi February 12, 1915, in Cicero, Illinois. In 1938, the family moved to Stevensville, Michigan and opened a small summer resort that catered primarily to Italian friends and acquaintances from the Cicero area. One of its main attractions was Grandma Tosi's marvelous Italian cooking, which she prepared exclusively for her summer guests. In 1948, Emil purchased the business from his parents and opened Tosi's Restaurant, featuring many of his grandmother's recipes. Over the next 25 years, under his energetic guidance, Tosi's Restaurant nearly tripled in size and became known as one of the best restaurants in the Midwest. Emil Tosi sold the restaurant in 1973 and retired from active participation in the business. Thanks to the solid foundation he created, Tosi's Restaurant is still in business today and continues to rank as one of America's finest dining establishments. Upon his passing, the employees of Tosi's Restaurant, both past and present, published the following eulogy to honor their longtime friend: "In remembrance ... the employees of Tosi's ... both past and present ... wish to express their sadness on the passing of Emil Tosi, who first opened his family's restaurant in 1948. It didn't matter to Emil that the restaurant was located off the beaten path. "You can build a restaurant in a swamp and if you serve good food, people will find you," he once said ... and that was so true. "Under Emil's creative leadership, Tosi's grew in size ... from the original capacity of 100 to 280 as it is today ... and also achieved national fame, being named "one of 22 restaurants (in the U.S.) well worth the trip" by Time Magazine in 1966 and, more recently, was one of only 2052 restaurants worldwide to be listed in Wine Spectator Magazinešs 1997 Annual Guide to Great Wine Lists and Distinguished Dining Establishments. The restaurant also was featured in a recent front page Chicago Sun-Times food section article because Tosi's still features some of the same dishes on its menu ... including Grandma Tosi's chicken cacciatore ... that it served when it first opened, a rarity in today's hurly burly restaurant world. "But Emil shouldn't be remembered just for his ability to create and maintain a high quality restaurant that has flourished for over 50 years. He was kind to everyone who worked for him, and though he sold the restaurant in 1973, the staff still remembers him fondly and with admiration. Marge Wiatrowski, who worked for Emil as a waitress some 31 years ago, now owns the restaurant along with her husband, Arnie, and co-owner and executive chef, Gary Manigold. Out of respect for Emil, Marge and Gary often asked Emil to stop by and talk to diners ... just as he used to do when owned the restaurant ... to help carry on the valued Tosi tradition. He will be missed by all who knew him."

Tosi's Restaurant, 4337 Ridge Road, Stevensville, MI 49127
Phone: 1.800.218.7745 or 616.429.3689 Fax: 1.616.429.5774 Email:host@tosis.com

(Note: The 800 number is only for use in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois)