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Dana Zito still spends many nights in her late husband鈥檚 pizzeria, where he was a fixture in the Southeast sa国际传媒官网网页入口 community for 35 years.

鈥淚 just feel a lot of happiness in here still,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven without him, we鈥檙e lucky that it just keeps us going.鈥�

Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Rosario Zito, who was killed in a robbery-turned-shootout. Police say he died after exchanging gunfire with Sylvan Alcachupas, who was attempting to rob Zito鈥檚 employees. Alcachupas is awaiting trial in the case.

The beloved pizzeria owner, 57 years old at the time of his death, was celebrated by his family and the community on Wednesday night at his restaurant, Giovanni鈥檚 Pizzeria, near San Pedro and Gibson.

It was standing room only in the dining room, where every chair was full, every table was packed and the walls were adorned with photos of Rosario with friends and family. The air was filled with laughter and conversation, all shared over plates of sandwiches and pasta.

Second Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman was among those gathered as well.

This was just the way Rosario would have wanted it, his widow said.

Rosario Zito was known for his signature greeting of 鈥淗ey, how you doin鈥�?鈥� His wife remembers him as a gregarious, fun-loving guy who welcomed everyone into his restaurant.

鈥淲e would just tell everybody to just get inside and eat, you know? Just eat, relax,鈥� she said.

Rosario, the son of Italian immigrants, moved from New York to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 with his family when he was a teenager. He took an interest in making pizza, so his parents decided to open the pizzeria, which was named for his father. It was soon a gathering place for good food and good company.

Zito took over the restaurant after his parents retired.

Todd Kersting, Rosario鈥檚 brother-in-law, said Zito loved being a member of the community, and the support they鈥檝e received shows how much the community loved him back.

鈥淗e loved being the heartbeat of this neighborhood,鈥� Kersting said. 鈥淎nd the families, friends are just great to continue to show up and continue to enjoy the food and to honor Rosario.鈥�

A candlelight vigil was held in his honor and the Rev. Hyginus Chuks Anuta of Holy Ghost Catholic Church blessed both Rosario and the restaurant.

The pizzeria now has a fresh coat of paint in the dining room and continues to do business. Dana Zito initially didn鈥檛 want to open ever again, but she credits the staff and the memory of her husband as the reason why she changed her mind.

鈥淭hese guys are like, 鈥楻osario would want us to keep going,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淪o I just said, 鈥極K, I gotta do it.鈥欌��

Despite the tragic events of a year ago, Dana Zito said she couldn鈥檛 imagine her life being any other way: spending her days in the same restaurant where her husband spent so much of his life.

鈥淭his was home to him,鈥� Zito said.