Hoboken Pizzeria Owner, 42, Passes Away After 2-Month COVID Fight

HOBOKEN, NJ — After things were starting to look up in Hoboken pizzeria owner Frank Volpe's two-month battle with coronavirus last month, the 42-year-old father of three passed away March 30.

Volpe had opened a second location of his brick oven pizzeria, Napoli's, in 2017.

Volpe came down with the virus in late January and was eventually put on a ventilator, according to a GoFundMe set up for expenses.

According to a post on Monday on the GoFundMe, "On January 29th Frankie tested positive for COVID19. Two weeks later on February 8th he was rushed to the hospital with 104.6 fever and oxygen levels plummeting to the 60s. Upon arrival the medical staff had advised he had viral pneumonia due to the virus. This virus has no cure and therefore antibiotics were not helping...."

After battling the virus in a hospital, undergoing several operations, being put on a ventilator, and undergoing a tracheotomy to help is breathing, the GoFundMe team posted on March 21 that he was briefly conscious and following directions.

However, according to a post Monday from his wife, he took a turn for the worse.

"As the days went on he suddenly took a turn for the worse on Sunday, March 28th," says the post. "He had been put on and taken off of a dialysis machine to assist his kidneys. However, his liver began to shut down. Two days later on March 30th, Frankie’s heart stopped and he left us here to walk with the angels above. He will always be remembered as being an amazing father and husband, boss, business owner, brother, son, and friend."

She added, "He was a bright light in this dark world. Frankie was truly an incredible human being with so much love and life within him. He was my angel, my Prince Charming, my everything. My one true love — my soulmate. My heart and soul are broken. I anxiously await the day that we can be together again."

Hard-working businessman

Volpe worked in his family's New York City pizzeria, Lombardi's in SoHo, for 12 years before he started his own. "Lombardi’s was the very first licensed pizzeria in the United States," notes the Napoli's website. "It was established by Volpe’s family back in 1905."

Friends and customers said Volpe was often spotted working in the Hoboken pizzeria.

A commenter on the GoFundMe on Monday wrote, "Napoli's on Clinton has been a family favorite since it opened. Although we only dealt with Frank on a number of occasions, he was always very helpful and accommodating. We are heartbroken for his family."

"We lived on the same street as the new Napoli’s and were frequent visitors," wrote another. "He was always so nice and great to chat with."

Hoboken's Front Line Appreciation Group said he had provided food last June. "What an incredibly nice person," they wrote. "This virus will leave casualties for years to come. Please remember every moment is a gift."

The restaurant posted on Instagram Monday afternoon, "Frankie loved and took great pride in what he did — serving people. It was his craft to perfect everything for the enjoyment of all of his guests, whether they were local regulars or first-time visitors that came from afar. We appreciate all of your condolences and beautiful words, and want you all to know that the legacy of Napoli's, which Frankie built from scratch, will absolutely continue on."

Services and how to help

• Read about services for Frank Volpe this week here.
• Read tributes from friends and fellow Hoboken business owners on the Tribute Wall tab here.
• Donate to the GoFundMe by clicking here.

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