He collapsed from heart failure while working at his restaurant, Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria, in Astoria, said Matthew Katakis, his business partner.
He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later.
Mr. Bellucci’s pizzas first won attention when he worked at Lombardi’s, a revival of a venerable coal-fired pizzeria on Spring Street in Little Italy.
Nancy Silverton, Todd English and other chefs came to to taste his pizza, which was a far cry from the foldable, gold-and-orange and mostly interchangeable slices sold across the city.
Ms. Silverton was especially impressed by a pie topped with fresh clams, garlic, oregano and olive oil.
Persons:
Andrew Bellucci, Andrew Bellucci’s, Matthew Katakis, Nancy Silverton, Todd English, Silverton, Eric Asimov
Organizations:
New York Times
Locations:
New York City, Queens, Astoria, Lombardi’s, Little Italy