Giuseppe “Peppino” Presti passed away unexpectedly Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Rome, Italy, at the age of 79. He was born on December 2, 1937, in Tripi, Sicily, to the late Anna (DeFrancesco) and Salvatore Presti. During the 1960s, he and his wife immigrated to the United States where they had their son, Joseph.

Peppino dedicated over 20 years of his life to his family run business, Franco’s Pizzeria and Pub in Waltham, MA, with the help of his immediate family.

Peppino loved, first and foremost, his grandchildren. A true nature man, he enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger days and would yearly transform his rocky New England backyard into a lush green garden. He had a way with animals, would know the strange plants you could find at the side of a road and eat (often picking them and making delicious meals from them), and found joy in the little things in life others would often overlook.

He will be remembered by many as a quiet and reserved man, but to his grandchildren he will be remembered by the many stories, especially ones about his life growing up in WWII and his time in the Italian military, his special pride in sharing his garden with them and his vast knowledge of botany (especially the first snap peas of the season), and (the sometimes rowdy) scopa and briscola games. Although he loved this country, somehow fate called him back to his first homeland for his final resting place.

He is survived by his wife Francesca (Rizzo), his son S. Joseph Presti, his daughter-in-law Susan Scichilone Presti, his grandchildren Maria, Cinzia and Giuseppe, his siblings Maria “Nina” Salamone, Carmella Scolaro and Mica Munafo, as well as many sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins in both America and Italy. He was the brother of the late Filippo Presti and Santi Presti. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Peppino’s Life at Sacred Heart Church, 311 River St., Waltham, MA, on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 9:00 am.

No flowers please. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Vernon Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462