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Anyone who met our father, Peter "Papa"Pedretti was better for having known him. This happy, quiet, gentle man had an outlook on life that touched everyone who knew him. No one benefitted more than my brothers and I who were so blessed to have him as a father.

He was born in Italy during the war, the sixth of nine children to Maria and Angelo Pedretti. He had five brothers and three sisters he cherished and loved. Peter was a truly good man shaped by a childhood steeped in poverty under war and unspeakable strife yet to know him you never would have imagined what he and his siblings went through as children. Starvation, occupation, facism and separation were what defined their lives but to speak to any of them they'd shrug it off and never let us kids know how truly remarkable a family we were all too quick to take for granted. No one who knew my dad would ever imagine what he survived given his sunny disposition seemingly simplistic and positive approach to life.

Peter came to the US at the age of eighteen and spent time in construction working on the infrastructure of NYC and then at the Plaza hotel. His favorite story to tell was how he ran to Marilyn Monroe's rescue with a safety pin after hearing she needed help with her dress. Once he met and married the love of his life Marina Stacchini knowing her father Luigi from the VanNest Club in the Bronx he was whisked away to become the best husband and father anyone could have. After a few years he joined his father-in-law Luigi at A&L Meatmarket and became part of a very nascent NY food scene. I remember being shocked as a college student in NY people asking what my parents did for a living and mentioning the shop whereby they all knew dad and the signature lunches the shop became known for in midtown with Pete at the helm. He was and is unforgettable.

Peter and Marina had three children: Theresa, Louis and Peter Jr. Of everything in their lives what’s most meaningful is what they did for our brother Peter. We were a family of modest means and despite being told repeatedly by doctors to "forget they had Pete" they fought back against every odd. A kid not expected to live past six months, then nine months, then five years old or his childhood...just celebrated his fifty third birthday in December. All due to the dedication and love of our parents. I remember taking wrapped packages of filet mignon and prime rib from the butcher shop as gifts for all the doctors around NYC who operated on Petie's many conditions. I remember the humble and heartfelt thanks we made to these doctors as we made the rounds after every one of the many surgeries my brother endured.
My dad worked so many hours six days a week, we barely saw him as kids. One memory is my waiting in my communion dress so dad could see me when he got home from work he couldn't even take off for such important occasions. Despite being exhausted from grueling long days, he never skimped on using his one day off a week to take us to Jones Beach, or walk Bear Mountain, take us into NY to see Gone With The Wind or Swiss Family Robinson at Radio City or ice skating at Rock Center.

His oldest Theresa married Bill and had three grandchildren for him to spend every minute with. Bill introduced Giants football and tailgates and every other thing he could possibly drag him to. Sophie, Sean and Nolan are filled with the happy memories of a life spent with his love of ice cream, ricola wrappers all over the car, Perry Cuomo and Wheels On The Bus on constant loop until they were teens. Every heritage day at school they proudly brought him to class where Italian grandpa would come in and tell the class stories about growing up in Italy, about not being able to attend school once Mussolini closed the schools when he was in third grade and the long boat ride to America. I remember the class being stunned they couldn't comprehend what he was saying. Only to have him immediately raid the snack tables and tell the teachers that water rusts the pipes, and he drank only beer and whiskey! Our dad broke the mold. The kids are full of stories of my dad doing anything and everything they wanted. He was there for every single occasion and happy moment.

In the last few years he moved in with Louis and Greg on long island and of course with Maya and Lucas the dogs that made his days the happiest...watching reruns in his favorite chair, trips to Jones Beach, to the kids out in Jersey, to graduations and birthdays and BBQs, time spent floating in the pool, time with Petie. Of everything at the end the nurses who knew him reported he talked constantly of missing the dogs the most.

All of this the man that was our father. The best dad, papa, grandpa, husband, brother, uncle, friend possible. We will miss you dad. Thank you for spending your life with us. We will miss you every day of ours. Love you always.

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