Angie Ruvo (age) of Las Vegas, NV, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 98 years old. Angie, long admired as Las Vegas’s first celebrity chef, was born Feb. 1, 1924 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Angie along with her husband Lou and son Larry, left Niagara Falls and moved to Las Vegas to join her best friend/sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Albert Perry, and their daughter Lorraine, where they pooled their resources together to open a family run operation - The Venetian Pizzeria on East Fremont Street in 1955. It was widely known as Las Vegas’s first pizzeria in town and named The Venetian Pizzeria, however the families could not afford to light up “The Venetian”, so you only saw “Pizzeria” on the sign when it was lit at night. It became formally known as “The Venetian Ristorante and Pizzeria” in 1966 when they moved the restaurant’s location to West Sahara Avenue. Many celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Vic Damone along with politicians and prominent Las Vegans; from stars, tourists and local families came to this Las Vegas culinary landmark to enjoy Angie’s home style cooking for decades until it closed after Lou’s passing in 1994. Angie was always known for her welcoming personality and treated everyone who visited The Venetian Ristorante and Pizzeria as a member of her family. She was a model for faithfulness, integrity, love and generosity.
In addition to running the restaurant, Angie was also caregiver to her husband, Lou, after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Angie’s love and care for her husband has since brought the history of her husband’s illness to many through the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Angie Ruvo Caregiving Chair established in Angie’s name to recognize her tremendous dedication as a caregiver.
Angie is survived by her devoted son, Larry Ruvo and his wife Camille; her granddaughters Nicole Ruvo Falcone (Michael Falcone), Lauren Marie Ruvo Carroll (Dr. Matt Carroll), and Brianna Angelina Ruvo; great-granddaughters Angelia Alessandra Ruvo Falcone and Gaia Noria Ruvo Falcone and newborn great-grandson Oliver Lawrence Ruvo Carroll, along with many Godchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, family members and close friends. All will miss her terribly, including her adopted sons, Dennis Gutwald and his family and Michael Severino and his wife Denise.
Our family would like to express our greatest admiration and thanks to two great doctors and family friends, Dr. Sean Ameli and Dr. George Tu along with a remarkable team of caregivers led by Stephanie Giuffre, RN, Mary Ann Fernandez and Melody Ward. These wonderful doctors and ladies allowed Angie to stay at home and pass away peacefully in her home.
Funeral services will be private.
In memory of Angie Ruvo, donations can be made to Keep Memory Alive and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Avenue, Las Vegas 89106, phone (702) 263-9797, www.keepmemoryalive.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Ruvo family.
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