Vincent Sardi Jr. Dies

Vincent Sardi Jr., owner of Sardi’s restaurant, the legendary Broadway watering hole where for decades the New York theater celebrated its opening nights, died Thursday at age 91.

Sardi, who had been hospitalized in Berlin, Vt., died of complications related to a urinary tract infection, said Max Klimavicius, managing partner of Sardi’s.

“This is a loss to the restaurant and the Broadway community,” said Klimavicius, who knew Sardi for more than three decades. “He was a true gentlemen, a one of a kind.”

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Sardi’s father started the restaurant in 1921, and the son took over around 1945 after serving in the Marines. Sardi, who was born in New York, eventually sold the restaurant in 1985 but ended up taking control of it again about five years later. Sardi retired in 1997. His grandson, Sean Ricketts, now manages the landmark eatery, which is adorned with caricatures of celebrities including Martin Short, John Leguizamo, Lucille Ball, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Douglas and Billy Zane.

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“We had made some changes to the restaurant,” Klimavicius said, “and he loved the fact the restaurant had been kept the way he would have kept it.”

Rest In Peace, Vincent.