Longtime Springfield restaurateur Sam DiGiacinto dies at 77

DiGiacinto brought the flavors of his Atlantic City hometown to his family-style Italian restaurant for over three decades.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:18am

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Sam DiGiacinto, who operated a popular Italian restaurant in Springfield, Missouri for 35 years, has passed away at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. DiGiacinto learned the restaurant business from his cousin Nick Russo and became known for serving homemade Italian dishes like bread, pasta, chowder, and cannelloni that were inspired by the flavors of his hometown of Atlantic City.

Why it matters

DiGiacinto's restaurant was a beloved local institution in Springfield, providing residents with a taste of authentic Italian cuisine for over three decades. His passing marks the end of an era for the city's dining scene and the loss of a community pillar who helped shape the local food culture.

The details

DiGiacinto opened his family-style Italian restaurant in Springfield in the early 1990s, serving dishes that were inspired by recipes he learned growing up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was known for making everything from scratch, including homemade Italian bread, pasta, and classic dishes like Manhattan clam chowder and cannelloni.

  • DiGiacinto opened his restaurant in Springfield in the early 1990s.
  • DiGiacinto operated the restaurant for 35 years before passing away in 2026 at the age of 77.

The players

Sam DiGiacinto

The owner and operator of a popular Italian restaurant in Springfield, Missouri for 35 years until his death in 2026 at the age of 77.

Nick Russo

DiGiacinto's cousin, who taught him the restaurant business and opened Pop's Malt Shop and Ebbets Field in Springfield.

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What’s next

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield this summer to honor DiGiacinto's life and legacy.

The takeaway

DiGiacinto's passing marks the end of an era for Springfield's dining scene, as his family-owned Italian restaurant had been a beloved local institution for over three decades. His commitment to serving authentic, homemade Italian cuisine inspired by his Atlantic City roots left a lasting impact on the community's food culture.