by Tricia Romano

In Seattle's Italian-American community, everyone knew John Croce. "Big John," as he was called, was the founder and owner of Pacific Food Importers and Big John's P.F.I., the popular wholesale store and its sister retail outlet on Sixth Avenue in Sodo. Mr. Croce died Aug. 23 at Swedish Cherry Hill. He was 91.

His nickname came from formidable size, and he could be seen holding court at the events thrown by Italian-American club, the Seattle Fedele Lodge, often sipping a glass of his homemade Zinfandel. "Everybody knew John in some way. Every festival he was there with his wine and his smile," Armandino Batali, the father of famed chef Mario Batali, and the owner of the Italian sandwich shop Salumi, said. "He ran a helluva business."

Read more

Source: http://www.seattletimes.com/