Tony Sano

Born in Denver on April 14, 1953, to Jim and Caroline Sano, Tony grew up in a close-knit Italian family where food, family and gathering around the table were at the heart of life. Those traditions would become defining threads throughout Tony’s own life.

Tony was, quite simply, a wildly kind person. He had an incredible gift for making people feel welcomed, cared for and special. Whether he was greeting guests in one of his restaurants, setting a spectacular table for friends and family, or simply spending time with someone he loved, Tony understood that true hospitality was about much more than food or a beautiful setting—it was about how you made people feel.

Restaurants were in Tony’s blood. His family owned Three Sons Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, a beloved Denver institution at 4408 Lowell Street. The restaurant’s name referred to Jim and Caroline’s three sons—Tony, John and James—and for years it was a place where the Sano family’s love of Italian food and hospitality was shared with generations of Denver families.

Following the closure of Three Sons, Tony took a brief detour from the restaurant world and put his considerable creative talents to work in the design field at D’Juna in Denver. But hospitality soon called him back. Tony purchased what would become Sano’s Italian Kitchen, once again creating a place where good food, warmth and genuine hospitality came together.

Tony’s creativity extended well beyond the restaurant business. He loved entertaining and had a remarkable eye for beauty. He delighted in creating spectacular tablescapes, collecting antiques, decorating, and—perhaps most enthusiastically—shopping and buying. For Tony, finding something beautiful was only half the fun; sharing it with others was even better.

Above all, Tony loved people. He was generous with his time, his home, his table and his heart. He possessed the rare ability to make an ordinary gathering feel like an occasion and to make the people around him feel as though they were the most important people in the room. His warmth, humor, creativity and enormous capacity for kindness will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Tony is survived by his husband, Terry Vechazone; his brother, Johnny Sannino; and his brother-in-law, Tim Vechazone and his wife, Sandy, along with extended family and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Caroline Sano, and his brother, Jimmy Sannino, Jr.

Services will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 3549 Navajo Street, Denver. The Rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Celebration Mass at 10:00 a.m.

Those who knew Tony will remember many things about him—the restaurants, the beautiful tables, the antiques, the shopping and the wonderful gatherings. But most of all, they will remember his kindness and the way he welcomed people into his life.

Tony knew how to make people feel at home. And there was always room for one more at his table.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Collier House or NPR.

Click here to view a photo gallery of Tony’s family, friends, and celebrations. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6e9jpyc8n62dnt7u9wngl/Tony_Sano_Memorial_Slideshow-4.mp4?rlkey=qhzc75zu1agyacgx79mhojl2x&st=lhn9vpm2&e=1&dl=0