- Harry Olivieri
Infobox Person
name = Harry Olivieri
image_size =
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birth_date = 1916
birth_place =Philadelphia ,Pennsylvania
death_date =July 20 ,2006
death_place =Pomona, New Jersey
occupation =Restaurateur
spouse = Anne DeLuca
parents = Michael and Maria Olivieri
children = 2 childrenHarry M. Olivieri (born 1916 - died
July 20 2006 ) was an Italian-Americanrestaurateur . He is credited, along with his brother,Pat Olivieri , as the co-creator of thePhilly Cheesesteak in 1933. The brothers opened Pat's King of Steaks in 1940, one of the best known purveyors ofsteak sandwich es inPhiladelphia .Early life
Olivieri was born in
South Philadelphia to Italian parents Michael and Maria Olivieri. The family returned to Italy when he was three, returning to Philadelphia four years later. He attended Southwark School before leaving to work as a carpenter. [ [http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15088592.htm] ] Olivieri married his wife, Anna DeLuca, in 1936.Citation
last =Sims
first =Gayle Ronan
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Obituary: Harry M. Olivieri / Philadelphia cheesesteak's co-creator
journal =Philadelphia Inquirer
volume =
issue =
pages =
date =July 22, 2006
year =2006
url =
doi =
id = ]Pat's King of Steaks
In 1930, Harry opened a
hot dog stall with his older brother Pat Olivieri at the corners of 9th Street, Wharton and Passyunk Avenues. [ [http://www.patskingofsteaks.com/] Pat's King of Steaks official website.] The brothers ran the restaurant while holding down others jobs; Harry worked as a carpenter, while Pat made sleds.In 1933, as the family relates the story, the brothers invented the steak sandwich, selling the first one to a cab driver for ten cents.
In 1940, the brothers rented space to open Pat's King of Steaks at the same spot that they had their stand. The two brothers worked at the restaurant for 15 to 18 hours a day for the next few decades while the restaurant was open 24 hours a day. Harry worked at the
Philadelphia Naval Yard during World War II before returning to the restaurant.Harry Olivieri had a heart attack in 1972 and retired from day to day management. He still visited the business for a few hours each day to meet and greet the customers. Pat's son Herbert Olivieri disputed ownership of the business with Harry and his children. Son Frank Olivieri eventually bought out his father, sister and cousin.
In the last few years of his life, he lived with his daughter in
Brigantine, New Jersey . He died ofheart failure on July 22, 2006, inPomona, New Jersey , at the age of 90.Harry's grandson, Frank Jr., now runs the business.
Notes
External links
* [http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15088592.htm "Philadelphia Daily News" "Steak legend Harry Olivieri dies" 21 July 2006 accessed 25 July 2006]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/us/22olivieri.html?_r=1&oref=slogin "New York Times", "Harry Olivieri, 90, Co-Inventor of Cheese Steak in Philadelphia, Dies" July 22, 2006 retrieved July 25, 2006]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5573992 Interview with Frank Olivieri]
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