Abdessadek "Sadek" Benessa

He attended college in Meknes, Morocco and Lyons, France, before settling in Assisi, Italy, where he worked as a pizzaiolo, or pizza chef. It was in Assisi where he met his future wife, Kate. They married in Pontassieve, Italy and continued living there for a short while before moving to Fort Collins, CO. It was there the couple opened their restaurant, Pizzeria La Collina, a popular Old Town establishment for over 10 years.

Sadek spoke fluent Arabic, French, Italian, and English, and loved to travel, most recently visiting Morocco, China, Washington D.C., and New York City. For the last few years he worked as a cook for The Foundry at CSU where he made many cherished friends. He also became a genius container gardener, turning table scraps into veggies and trees, coaxing blooms from rock beds, and rigging elaborate watering systems. He remained an outstanding cook all his life, with family and friends the lucky recipients of his Moroccan and Italian meals, the best marinara sauce ever made, and always, his delicious pizza.

Sadek loved a Dad joke, baking shows, westerns, and a good heist movie, and telling the story of his first school experience in Morocco sitting on an itchy straw mat on the floor.

He was a devoted Dad to his daughter Noura and delighted in her artistic talents and academic achievements. And although he and Kate divorced, and there were other marriages, they remained dear friends for 28 years. Noura and Kate were at his bedside for the final two weeks of his life.

Sadek passed away on October 23, 2024 and was buried at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Fort Collins, CO on October 25. He is survived by his daughter, Noura, and his mother, Douh, and five siblings, Touria, Nourddine, Amina, Hanane, and Mohsin, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

His family invites you share memories and photos on his memorial page at resthavencolorado.com.