The mood was somber at Mario’s Italian Market in Surf City this weekend as staff and shocked customers mourned the loss of owner Mario J. Aversa Jr., who died Nov. 7 at age 46. His passing leaves behind two young daughters, Annaliese, and Elena, and their mother, Dawn.

Aversa himself had encountered tragedy and health challenges in the family, including the passing of his parents, Mario and Phyllis Aversa, and a brother, Peter, who died at age 34, all of whom had been part of the family’s food business. Aversa had a massive heart attack that coincided with complications from recently diagnosed diabetes that had gone undiagnosed for some time, a family member said.