PEORIA ( WMBD Radio ) - A legend in Peoria’s restaurant scene has died.

Jerry Agatucci, third generation owner of Agatucci’s, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 87.

Jerry retired from the restaurant in 2005 after co-owning with his brother, Jim, since the late-1970’s.

Jerry’s son, Danny, tells WMBD’s “The Phil Luciano Show” that his father had a passion for people.

“He didn’t see them as customers, he didn’t think about the business part of it, he loved everybody,” Danny Agatucci said.

Danny says he was always “stunned” by his dad’s memory of the people who would visit the restaurants. He says treating people at the restaurant like family was one of the biggest lessons his father gave to him.

Danny says last month’s street sign dedication ceremony at Agatucci’s meant a lot t

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