MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR DONNA MAR3E "MAMA" MALNATi
WHEREAS, On January 3, 2020, Chicago lost the matriarch of one of Chicago's pizza dynasties when Donna Marie "Mama" Malnati passed away at 93; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of Mama Malnati's passing by the Honorable Brendan Reilly, Alderman of the 42nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born to Florence and Harold Carter, Donna grew up in Muscatine, Iowa, where Donna's father operated a second-hand store; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, Donna worked at an arms plant; she moved to Chicago to study nursing at Northwestern University and work as a registered nurse at Wesley Memorial and Passavant Memorial Hospitals; and
WHEREAS, One day, Donna dropped in at Pizzeria Uno where she met the manager, Rudy Malnati, who eventually ran Pizzeria Due and Su Casa; and
WHEREAS, Donna and Rudy married and went on to become Chicago pizza royalty, working with their children to found two iconic Chicago pizza restaurants, with Lou founding Lou Malnati's and Rudy, Jr. founding Pizanos; and
WHEREAS, Donna helped develop the famous caramelized, buttery thin crust of Pizano's from an old secret family recipe; she handled the dough-making while Rudy, Jr. handled the restaurant; and
WHEREAS, Even though Mama Malnati helped Rudy, Jr. develop his thin crust at Pizano's, she remained loyal to deep dish, leaving explicit instructions about the food to be served at her celebration of life. "I don't want that damn thin-crust pizza. The only thing ! want served is our original deep dish sausage and cheese"; and
WHEREAS, As Donna approached 90, she could still be found in the basement of the Pizano's on State Street crafting her dough to perfection; and
WHEREAS, Preceded in death by her husband, Rudy, Sr., who passed away in 1974, her son Robert, and her stepson Lou; Donna is survived by her son Rudy, Jr. and four grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, A true Chicago icon, Donna's efforts and spirit helped shape the Chicago pizza restaurant scene, and her hard work and dedication will be always be remembered; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we. the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this nineteenth day of February, 2020, do hereby extend our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Donna Marie Malnati; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Donna Marie Malnati as a sign of our gratitude and respect.
