Roger Cavallo

Roger was born on December 5, 1929, in Naples, Italy. His childhood in Italy instilled in him lifelong passions for fishing, hunting, growing things, and cooking. As a young man, he served as a navigator in the Italian Navy before coming to America with little more than determination and a desire to build a new life. He first settled in New York, where he began working as a dishwasher in a restaurant, and his entrepreneurial drive had him running a food concession in a nightclub in short order.

Roger eventually made his way to Tampa, where in the 1950s he opened Vesuvio Italian Restaurant in downtown Tampa, one of only two Italian restaurants in the city at the time. Roger became known for making pizza in the restaurant’s front window, tossing the dough high into the air and drawing an audience of passersby who stopped to watch, much to the annoyance of his competition. At its peak all the baseball stars on spring training and local theatre performers were regular customers.

It was at Vesuvio in 1957 that Roger first saw Eula , the woman with whom he would share the rest of his life. They had a short courtship and were married soon after.

After closing Vesuvio, Roger became a union pipefitter member who was often foreman or job steward. He recently celebrated fifty years of membership with Local 624. When he retired Roger began fishing daily.

The water was one of Roger’s great loves. A celebrated sports fisherman, he was elected to the International Fishing Hall of Fame and received its prestigious Silver Dolphin Award, its highest honor in sport fishing. A multiple-time winner in the Tampa Tarpon Tournament, his accomplishments on the water were chronicled in local newspapers and sports magazines.

Roger continued to fish and hunt with his son until shortly before his death. His passion for the water never diminished, and he still looked forward to getting back out fishing.

In addition to fishing and hunting, Roger enjoyed watching baseball on television, cooking, and tending to his mango and avocado trees.

Above all, Roger loved his family. He shared an extraordinary 69 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Eula. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who worked hard throughout his life to provide for those he loved and was always there when they needed him.

Roger is survived by his beloved wife, Eula Cavallo; his four children, Raffaelina “Lina” Sjoblom, Amedeo “Danny” Cavallo, Caterina Saunders, and Carol Cavallo; his eight grandchildren, Rachel Rodriguez, Rebecca Rodriguez, Daniel Cavallo, Nicholas Cavallo, Matthew Saunders, Haley Saunders, Kate Saunders, and Emma Hullett; his brother, Gennaro Cavallo; and his sister, Caterina Eramo.

He will be deeply missed, but the family he loved, the life he built, the traditions he passed down, and the countless stories and memories he leaves behind will carry his legacy forward.