Ray Capitanini, a pivotal figure in the legacy of the Italian Village restaurant, passed away on April 10 due to respiratory issues following heart surgery. He was 89 years old.
Capitanini significantly transformed the wine offerings at the Italian Village, increasing the selection from roughly two dozen to nearly 4,000 wines during the 1980s.
His nephew, Al Capitanini, shared that Ray treated wine as an investment, bringing in patrons from across the country who sought to dine at the restaurant because of its exceptional wine collection.
Together with his brother Frank and sister Ave, Ray Capitanini represented the second generation of the family to lead the esteemed restaurant, which holds the title of Chicago’s oldest Italian dining establishment.
Founded in 1927 by their Italian immigrant parents, Alfredo and Ada Capitanini, the Italian Village has remained a culinary staple at 71 W. Monroe St.
As the youngest sibling, Ray served as the restaurant’s table-hopping maitre d’, engaging with numerous well-known patrons over the years, including entertainment icons such as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, and Luciano Pavarotti.
Al Capitanini recounted how Ray enjoyed sitting with these guests, sharing stories and laughter.
He kicked off his evenings at the restaurant with a negroni, transitioned to a couple of glasses of wine, and concluded with a glass of Hennessy X.O cognac.
Pamella Capitanini, Al’s wife, recalled that when Streisand was performing at Chicago nightclubs, the Italian Village was the first restaurant she dined in upon arriving in the city, particularly enjoying the pasta primavera dish.
“Frank and Ray were so proud,” Pamella remarked.
Ray Capitanini was known for his vibrant personality and love for being around people.
His niece, Lisa Capitanini, an investigative news producer with NBC5, noted that he was often the first to hit the dance floor at weddings and the last to leave, occasionally breaking into sets of pushups in between.
“Ray just would have a very good time,” she expressed.
In 1961, Ray Capitanini played a crucial role in opening the upscale Florentine Room, located within the tri-level building that houses the Italian Village.
Although the Florentine has since closed, the Italian Village remains operational, along with two other restaurants and an event space run by fourth-generation family members.
In a 1992 review, Chicago Sun-Times restaurant critic Pat Bruno praised Vivere, the restaurant that replaced the Florentine Room, for its exceptional collection of Italian wines, which introduced the Italian Village to wine aficionados.
Mr. Capitanini resided in Lincoln Park, where his wife, Nada, passed away in 2008.
His beautifully maintained garden became a highlight of the Sheffield Garden Walk.
Ray had a passion for art and music, supporting prestigious institutions such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Goodman Theatre.
A devoted Cubs fan, he relished attending World Series games in 2016 with his brother Frank, who died in 2018.
“Every person I called on his contact list started crying when I told them he died,” Al Capitanini revealed.
“Ray helped many people who were down and out over the years.”
Born on July 28, 1935, Ray grew up in River Forest and attended Fenwick High School, later graduating from the University of Notre Dame.
Notably, he owned a car but preferred public transportation.
“Ray was someone with whom you could engage in meaningful conversations about everything,” his nephew added, noting that he was fluent in Italian.
“Ray was sort of that guy that everybody wanted to be.”
Services have already been held.
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2025/04/18/ray-capitanini-italian-village-restaurant-wine-maitre-d
