Faro Vitale

Faro Vitale, a former local restaurant owner, passed away unexpectedly January 5th at the age of 68. He was born October 18, 1947 in Cinisi, Sicily, a small village outside the capital city, Palermo. Like most Sicilian boys of the time, Faro had only three years of formal schooling. He, like others his age, were expected to help out at home by finding work suitable for young boys. When he was in his late teens looking for more substantial work and seeing little opportunity in his homeland he came to this country. He eventually found work at Salerno's, a cookie factory in Chicago, a place he worked for the next fourteen years. Faro, in a recent interview, tells it this way: "When I was a kid and I was work-ready, there was little work there (Sicily) so I came to this country. It was kind of hard at first. Can't speak English, don't know nothing, but I work hard, save a little money and then back to Sicily. It was too hard to get a good job so I came to this country. I was looking for opportunity. What else could I do."His opportunity came while working in Chicago when he met someone who owned an Italian restaurant. He worked at the restaurant when he could while holding a full-time job at Salerno's. Six months later the chef left. The owner asked if he would help him out on Friday and Saturday nights. If he would he would teach him what he knew about the food business. Three years later Faro and his wife Serafina Vitale (both had the same surnames), a childhood sweetheart whom he married in 1971, made a momentous decision. They moved to Oshkosh and rented a small place on Main Street, cleaned it up and named it Tony's Pizza and Italian Restaurant. For the next four years they scratched and saved, scratched some more and the business began to pick up. The Vitale's, realizing their restaurant was becoming too small for their increased business looked around and discovered the old Sno-Cap Drive-In Restaurant on Murdock Street was for sale. They turned it into Vitale's and their Main Street customers followed. Through-word-of-mouth and curiosity soon others started flocking to the restaurant. Many said it was the best veal, the best sauce, the best food they ever had. It was known as the best restaurant in town and, according to many, the best in the area. Faro offered a menu that drew people from a variety of other places to sample their authentic Italian and Sicilian cuisine. As Ginger DeShaney, a Northwestern reporter wrote in her column in 1992: "What sets Vitale's cuisine apart from the others? It's plain and simple - Authenticity."After ten successful years they moved a block away to a new location on Murdock. The Walgreen Corporation, deciding they wanted the corner of Jackson and Murdock for a new store, bought the Vitale's building along with Nolte's Service Station. Faro and Serafina stayed in the business another three years and then sold it to two longtime employees.Faro will be missed by family, friends, his former customers, and those who remember his easygoing and warm personality. He was a family man above all, supportive and loving. He was a kind teacher to each of his students at the restaurant, wanting to make sure it was more than a job, helping them develop those life skills so they could continue to grow outside of the restaurant. His passion for his restaurant and his selfless nature to always be there to help others were fulfilling to him and his family. But his favorite "job" was being a Nonno (grandfather).He is survived by his wife Serafina, his daughter Rita Vitale Gibson, his son-in-law Jay Gibson, his grandchildren, Jack and Sam Gibson, his two sisters, Caterina Galati and Margherita Palazzolo and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Salvatore, his sister, Fara Badalamente, and his parents.Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 am on Monday, January 11, 2016 at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, 830 S. Westhaven Drive with Father Edward Looney officiating. Friends and family may visit Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside on Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at 100 Lake Pointe Drive and again on Monday at St. Raphael Catholic Church from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. Entombment will take place at Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh. In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established. The family would like to thank the Aurora Hospital and staff for all their care that was given to Faro. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
2:00 pm until 4:00 pm



St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church



830 S Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
10:00 am until 11:00 am



St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church



830 S Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
11:00 AM



Lake View Memorial Park



2786 Algoma Bvld.
Oshkosh
WI
54901