Rivalta mourns the former restaurateur Armentano

RODIGO. When at the end of 2019 he decided to close the restaurant and retire, many tried to make him change his mind. He, frank and with a smile on his lips, went straight: “I deserve a little rest, I’m almost 67 years old …”. Thus, after four decades, the “Stella” restaurant lost its owner, Leonardo Armentano, who just over a year ago, in the pre-Covid world that today seems a century away, took off his apron for the last time, made it right in time to pass by the town hall where he was awarded a career award and started what it had to be the least demanding period, dedicated to rest, especially for him who had seen so many during a life full of work satisfactions – primarily the affection of client-friends – but who had presented him with the highest bill in 2013 when he had deprived him of his usual love, Stella, the wife with whom he had shared everything, including the days at the restaurant, him in the kitchen and she in the dining room serving at the tables.

“Leo”, from Calabria, had taken his first steps in the kitchen in 1973 in Liguria and four years later he and Stella had packed their bags for Mantua. New life. Both found a place at the “Mocambo” in Goito before deciding, in the 1980s, to set up their own business in Rivalta where over the years, thanks to pizzas, first and second courses, professionalism and passion they became a point of reference for a whole community.

Fate was ferocious with Armentano. After a year of retirement spent between lockdowns, restrictions, red, orange and yellow zones, a sudden illness took him away leaving hundreds of people in disbelief and at the same time pierced with pain for having lost a sincere friend, a respectable person.

Yesterday on social networks the news of his disappearance generated a flood of tears.

The last chance to greet “Leo” will be Thursday 11 February at 10 in the church of Rivalta where the funeral will take place.

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