John Mosca
John Mosca (pronounced "Mohsca") (May 6, 1925 Chicago Heights, Illinois – July 13, 2011, Harahan, Louisiana) was an American restaurateur and owner (and co-founder) of the famed Mosca's, a Louisiana Creole and Italian restaurant in Avondale, Louisiana, near New Orleans.[1][2][3]
Early life
Mosca was born, raised and attended Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois.[1][3] He worked for his parents, Provino and Lisa Mosca, at their local restaurant, which was also named Mosca's.[3]
Mosca enlisted in the
Mosca's parents and brother, Nick, moved to New Orleans during World War II because their daughter, Mary Mosca, had married a New Orleans resident named Vincent Marconi.[3] John Mosca also moved to New Orleans following the end of the war and his honorable discharge from the United States Army.[3]
Restaurant
In 1946, Mosca and his parents opened a new restaurant, called
Mosca would wake up at 5 a.m. to shop for ingredients and make the pasta and sausage by hand.[3] He worked at Mosca's consistently until approximately a month before his death in 2011.[1]
John Mosca died from prostate cancer at his home in Harahan, Louisiana, on July 13, 2011, at the age 86.[1][3] He was survived by his wife, Mary Jo Angellotti Mosca, and daughter, Lisa Mosca.[1] His wife and daughter still run Mosca's.[1]