Bridgeport Mourns Loss Of Iconic Jay 'Ice Man' Piccirillo

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Jay "Ice Man" Piccirillo, owner of Micalizzi’s Italian Ice and a beloved member of the Bridgeport community, died unexpectedly on Friday, and he is being remembered for his generous, kind and loving spirit.

"Jay Piccirillo was a force of nature," state Sen. Heron Gaston told News 12 Connecticut. "When he walked into a room, he generated a certain kind of electricity. His smile was contagious."

Micalizzi's, which also has locations in Milford and Stratford, was originally founded by in the 1940s by Sal Micalizzi, according to the shop's website. But when Sal retired in the early 1980s, he turned the business over to the late Andy Piccirillo, Jay's father, and it has remained in the Piccirillo family — and a staple of Bridgeport — ever since.

Families have loved the Italian Ice and treats Micalizzi's sells for decades.

Jay Piccirillo helped grow the family owned business on Madison Avenue into the fixture it is in the city, by adding new flavors, Italian ice-serving trucks and carts, and his fun "Ice Man" superhero alter ego.

Susan Reed, who created the face paint Piccirillo wore as his "Ice Man," said it was an honor to know him and paint the mask.

"Over the years, we treated each other like family — He was truly an incredibly generous and kind man," Reed wrote on Facebook. "It was so much fun watching him go from 'Jay' to the 'IceMan' and how pumped up he got when the makeup was on! I'm going to miss him so much."

In a statement to the Connecticut Post, Mayor Joe Ganim called Piccirillo a "pillar to the Bridgeport community," who was always willing to help and volunteer for events throughout the city.

On its Facebook page, the city paid tribute to Piccirillo with a series of photos.

"It’s with a heavy heart that we send condolences to the family of our dear friend, Jay Piccirillo," officials wrote. "Jay, you were a staple in our community, and you will certainly be missed by everyone in Bridgeport and around Connecticut! Thank you for being a tireless advocate for the community! RIP Ice Man."

On the Chaz and AJ show on 99.1 WPLR, the hosts spent a considerable amount of time Monday morning remembering Piccirillo, who they knew for decades through his many charitable efforts.

"He literally gave the shirt off his back for the people of Bridgeport," they said.