Biagio Dente was known for serving two things — good food and big smiles.

The local caterer and former co-owner of Dente’s Catering and Rental Co. passed away Dec. 14 at his home in Fort Meyers, Florida due to complications from throat cancer.

He was 78.

“Dad was a family man and loved tradition,” said daughter Suzanne DeJesus. “He loved tradition, family and being around people who felt like family.”

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Early beginnings

Biagio was born and raised in Pittston and graduated from Pittston High School before relocating to New Jersey to train to become a butcher.

According to his wife, Emma Jean, Biagio did not attend college but knew all along he wanted to be in the food service, saying he learned to cook when he was 10 years old.

Emma Jean said after his father fell ill, Biago returned home to Pittston to take over the family grocery store. The two met and eventually married.

“My father asked if he was going to be able to take care of me managing a grocery store,” said Emma Jean. “Biagio told him he couldn’t do any worse than him for when he first married my mom they weren’t in a much better situation.”

After Biagio’s uncle Frank, who was a caterer, passed away, Biagio was recruited to cater a party which planted the seeds of the two beginning their own business.

Emma Jean said she had no intention of getting into the food service before she married her husband.

“Biagio brought me into it,” she said. “When I was getting married, my father said, ‘Whatever your husband does, you have to do ,too.’ I got married, Biagio was cooking so I started cooking. If he was doing something else, I’d be doing something else.”

A family business

Immediately after marrying in 1962, Biagio and Emma Jean started Dente’s Catering and Rental Co. and served Greater Pittston for over 50 years.

The two worked side-by-side with the help of various employees catering parties, weddings and other events.

In time, they had three children — DeJesus, Blaise Alan Dente and Elaine Dente who passed away over 25 years ago to due to rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer that weakens the muscles.

DeJesus said working in Dente’s was a family thing.

“We all worked in the family business from the time we were counter high,” she said. “We washed dishes, peeled potatoes, put icing on cupcakes, you name it. It was a full-fledged family business and everyone did what they could do.”

Dente’s Catering officially closed at the beginning of 2015, but the tent rental business is still operational.

Cancer

Biagio was diagnosed with throat cancer in December 2013.

Despite his illness, he continued to own and operate Dente’s Catering and Rental Co. and Emma Jean said it was hard to tell there was anything wrong with him.

“Everyone would ask how he was doing and he said, ‘I look good and feel good as, for what’s going on inside, I don’t know,’” she said. “We had help that was with us for a long time that kept it going. We also had very good customers and good clientele.”

An ‘inspirational’ man

Biagio played a much bigger role in Pittston than just catering as he was also a founding member of the Pittston Tomato Festival and served as the event’s grand marshal in 2009.

Michael Lombardo, former city mayor and current member of the Tomato Festival committee, said Biagio was always on hand to help with the event.

“He was always involved and always supportive,” he said. “The Dentes were always a big part of the event and even after they closed the business, they still helped out.”

Because of his dedication to the city, Biagio was voted by residents to be on the Inspiration Mural, something that didn’t surprise Emma Jean.

“I knew he would be on it,” she said. “When I saw the article that they wanted to do it, I told my kids they better write a letter for daddy. If anybody’s’s face was to be on that wall, it was his.”

Other recognitions

Biago’s resume in the food industry is second to none with various honors and awards that include being a member of the American Academy of Chefs and being inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2006.

He was a member of the National Restaurant Association and was once president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association.

He was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 from the American Academy of Chefs and received a Presidential Medallion from the American Culinary Federation in 2001.

‘A good person’

Biagio is survived by his wife and two children, as well as son-in-law, Oscar DeJesus; granddaughters, Alyvia Elaine and Alisa Rose’ several nephews, nieces, and cousins.

His funeral will be Wednesday, Dec. 28 with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, 535 N. Main St. Pittston.

Emma Jean said if there is anything she wants people to about her husband, it’s what a good person he was.

“He had a good reputation and was well known,” she said. “I want everyone to remember how he was a good, Christian man and how we was always ready to help someone.”

Biagio Dente
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_PSD121816Biagio.jpg.optimal.jpgBiagio Dente
Biagio Dente, former owner of Dente’s Catering and Rental Co., passes away

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher