ARCHITECT OSVALDO MAIOZZI WILL NOT “REST IN PEACE”, PLANS ON MAJOR RENOVATION OF HEAVEN'S MAIN ENTRANCE

When beloved Los Angeles restaurant architect Osvaldo Maiozzi died this week dozens of touching tributes and condolences were posted on the internet, many of them urging the passionate, warmhearted and, at times, fiery Italian to “RIP”, that sincere send-off which we know means “Rest In Peace”.

These people writing “RIP” were doubtless saddened by the news of man who designed Angelini Osteria, Republique, Otium and many other L.A. restaurants and they may have been at a loss of what to type on a Facebook post. Regardless, their suggestion for Maiozzi to more or less “Chill out” and “lay down and slumber away” will likely not be followed. Osvaldo Maiozzi has no intention to Rest in Peace.

In an exclusive interview with Krikorian Writes, Osvaldo Maiozzi said resting in peace would be next to impossible in such a grand space as Heaven

“Tell all those nice people I said ‘grazie mille’, but the thought of resting in peace up here is not an option,” said Maiozzi, 68, who spoke with this reporter via the new 250 Testa Rosa Zeus-12 intergalactic phone. “Don’t get me wrong. it’s bellissimo up here. And spotless. But, i just think we can spice it up a bit and still retain its original integrity and soul. Kind of like what i did over at Republique.”

Maiozzi, who graduated from the University of Rome in 1981, said he hopes to start drawing up plans for a new entrance to Heaven as soon as he finishes celebrating with his many family and friends already up there. “This is the grandest of all spaces, but i do think it’s time to redo the entrance. Look, the soft, swirling clouds is a nice touch, but so many of us have seen versions of it already in the movies. You know, with Claude and James up there.” (Osvaldo was referring to Claude Raines in “Here Comes Mister Jordan” and James Mason in the “Heaven Can Wait’ remake, two angels near the gateway to Heaven.")

“I’m thinking of keeping some clouds, but maybe have some arches, a touch of granite maybe some rough-hewn pillars, and further on in, an open kitchen. I don’t know yet. Maybe get Giotto to do a fresco or three.“

Osvaldo said in addition to some structural changes, he would push for some different music at the entrance. “Look, I like Gabriel paying the trumpet as much as the next paisano. But, maybe change it up.. Get Dizzy and Louis playing the horn up here. Get Miles Davis on the weekends. Do they even have weekends up here?”

Osvaldo admitted it would be a tough go to get some changes up there, but was confidant he would prevail.

“Do you know what the love of my life Pam used to call me?,’ he asked, referring to Pam Leonte, his wife and love, his own “Jersey Girl”, ”Pam would call me her ‘Italiban’ The first part was for my heritage, my passion, my love of her and of life, and the later part was because I could be unrelenting and stubborn and kinda crazy.”

The Italiban had plans for the future.

“Imagine this. In about 25, 30 years or so, my Pam comes up to live with me and I’m here to greet her at the redesigned entrance and Miles is playing My Funny Valentine? That happen? Heaven would live up to its name.”