Richard Ignatius Rosati

Richard Rosati of Jefferson, Texas passed away on June 21, 2026.

 

Richard (Dick) was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 17, 1940. He was the ninth of ten children of loving parents, Saverio and Anna (Mercurio) Rosati. He was preceded in death by siblings Ferdinand Rosati, Grace Rosati, Willie Rosati, Alfred Rosati, Mary Ann Rosati, and Joanne Czernek. He is survived by sister, Josephine Pirro, and brothers, William Rosati and Ronald Rosati. 

 

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dick relocated to Arlington Heights. In 1964, he and his brothers, opened the first Rosati’s Pizza in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Ahead of their time, the first location featured an open concept kitchen where customers could watch their food being prepared through a floor to ceiling glass storefront. The Rosati family began franchising the brand in 1979 and currently has nearly 200 locations across the US. Dick is widely credited with developing and perfecting Rosati's sauce and was often recognized as one of the faces featured in the iconic branding.

 

Dick was larger than life - big and boisterous with a booming, infectious laugh that filled every room. He was inherently mischievous and the countless stories of his antics are legendary.

 

Family was everything to him - both blood and chosen. He made everyone feel welcome, seen, and appreciated. He was the favorite uncle and a cherished friend.

 

Dick always had a deep love for the outdoors. He was a devoted fisherman and enjoyed many years on Caddo Lake in Texas. 

 

Dick is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Rosati; loving children, Cynthia Oost (Donald), Marjorie Rosati, and Jacquelyn Rosati (Eric Sherman); cherished grandchildren, Tanya, Jessica (Vincent), Michelle, Brett, Rachel, Jana (Nathaniel), Max, Zack, and Grace; great-grandchildren, Ty, Isla, Noah, Oliver, Briella, Sebastian, Elijah, and Sammy; and many, many nieces and nephews.