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Dec. 10 - Dec. 16, 2021
Restaurateur Vincenzo Cerbone remembered
for ‘immeasurable’ impact on Long Island City
BY BILL PARRY
The Long Island City community
is mourning the loss
of restaurateur Vincenzo Cerbone,
who died this week after a
brief illness just a few days shy
of his 91st birthday, according to
his family.
Cerbone and his wife Ida
owned Manducatis Restaurant
on the corner of Jackson Avenue
and 47th Avenue for nearly a
half-century, where he enjoyed
being with his family and serving
“beautiful people,” which is
how he described his customers
through the years.
Vincenzo and Ida Cerbone
opened Manducatis Restaurant
on Christmas Day, 1976, after
they returned to the United
States following a long, protracted
stay in Italy, where Ida
was born in Naples and Vincenzo
was raised in a small town in
the Cassino region. They started
small with one room in the restaurant
and a refrigerator from
their own apartment along with
the pots and pans that Ida had
received at her bridal shower.
In the beginning, Ida ran the
kitchen alone while Vincenzo
ran the bar and served the
patrons.
“You do what you know,”
became his mantra as the restaurant
expanded with the addition
of two comfortable dining
rooms, one with brick walls and
an upright piano decked with
Vincenzo Cerbone, with his wife Ida, owned Manductis Restaurant in Long Island City since 1977.
wine bottles.
Business picked up in the
1980s and the Cerbone children
began to wait tables, including
their daughter Gianna Cerbone-
Teoli, who went on to open
Manducatis Rustica on Vernon
Avenue.
“He was just an amazing
man. After losing his mother
and three siblings in the 1930s,
he served in the Carabinieri in
Italy and then in the First Infantry
Division in the U.S. Army,
the Big Red One,” Cerbone-Teoli
said. “He was a legend and he
leaves a legacy of love behind
him here in America and in
Italy.”
She added that Manducatis
became a home away from
home for generations of Long
Photo via REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Island City families, as well as
politicians and entertainers,
and her father would do anything
to help his neighbors.
“There is no greater feeling
than to see the patrons that
dated at Manducatis come in
with grandchildren,” the couple
wrote on their restaurant’s website.
“It makes our uphill beginnings
worthwhile. The years
have flown by and through the
rushes and quiet spells that
very often ensue at such a business,
we still work essentially
the same.”
Vincenzo Cerbone and his
family were at the very heart
of Long Island City for decades,
and his absence will be felt deeply,
community leaders said.
“The Hunters Point Civic
Association is deeply saddened
by the passing of Vincenzo Cerbone,
his impact and dedication
to our neighborhood was immeasurable,”
the civic group
said. “This is a deep loss for our
community. We sincerely appreciate
all his service.”
His wake will be held Sunday,
Dec. 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. at
Hess Miller Funeral Home, located
at 64-19 Metropolitan Ave.
in Middle Village. The Mass
will be held Monday, Dec. 6, at
11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, located
at 1008 49th Ave. in Long
Island City. His burial will be in
Italy.
“Mr. and Mrs. Cerbone
planted their flag in Long Island
City and made it a home
not just for their family, but for
hundreds of New Yorkers who
came to love the neighborhood
at their generous table,” LIC
Partnership President Elizabeth
Lusskin said. “We thank
them both for all they have done
to make LIC blossom, and our
deep condolences go out to his
wonderful family.”
Vol. 9 No. 50 32 total pages
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