Rudy Malnati Obituary

Malnati Jr., Rudy

Rudy Malnati Jr., 65, passed away on December 24, 2021, after a long, private battle with cancer. Rudy was born and raised in Chicago and was known to be a true "Chicagoan". Rudy grew up working with his father, Rudy Sr., who was the creator of Chicago deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno. He then went on to own his own restaurant, Pizano's Pizza and Pasta. With his mother's help making the pizza dough, Pizano's grew into a Chicago favorite for many with multiple locations and shipping frozen pizzas nationwide. The restaurant business was such a passion for him, and he loved all the people that he was able to meet. He was thankful for all the amazing friendships he made over the years through the restaurant industry. All of them were considered "family" to him. Growing up in the city near Lake Shore Park, he began his early exposure to the park district, and this would be the start of his journey with the Chicago Air and Water Show. He was an employee with the Park District at an early age and when the Air and Water Show moved to the Mayor's Office of Special Events, he moved with it. He considered it a privilege to work for Mayor Daley. He would also go on to direct various additional air shows including Milwaukee, WI, Gary, IN, and Rockford, IL. He felt it was a true honor to work with various flight teams. He was named an honorary US Navy Blue Angel, US Air Force Thunderbird, Navy Leap Frog, and Army Golden Knight. The respect he had for the military was unmeasurable and the friends were priceless to him. Outside of work, Rudy was a family man. He was married to his wife Annette for over 20 years. Their marriage was filled with love and continuous laughter. Rudy was the father of his two children, Holly and Rudy, both of whom admired him very much. Rudy was preceded in death by his father: Rudy Sr., mother: Donna Marie, brother: Lou, and brother: Robert. He is survived by his wife, Annette, his daughter Holly, and his son, Rudy. Visitation, Wednesday. December 29, 2021, 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Donnellan Family Funereal Services, 10045 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, Illinois 60077. Visitation Thursday December 30, 2021, 9:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. at Holy Name Cathedral, 730 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. To view Funeral Mass, go to Rudy's obituary at donnellanfuneral.com. Interment Private at Lake Forest Cemetery. Info (847) 675-1990

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