Restauranteur Vincent Sardi Jr. Dead at Age 91

Vincent Sardi Jr., the longtime owner and manager of legendary 44th Street theater haunt Sardi's, died January 4 at the age of 91. The cause of death was complications from a urinary tract-infection.

Born July 23, 1915 and raised in Manhattan, Sardi's father took over the management of his first restaurant in the basement of a brownstone in 1921 until the establishment moved down the street six years later to make way for construction of the St. James Theatre. Sardi joined his father's business in 1939 and took over management of the restaurant in 1947, where he stayed for 50 years, retiring in 1997 to Warren, Vermont.

Mr. Sardi is survived by his wife June, three children, Paul, David and Tabitha, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Plans for a memorial service at Sardi's restaurant are forthcoming.