Michael W. Mosi

On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, Michael William Mosi, age 59, of Key West, formerly of Pittsburgh, passed away peacefully in Miami with his family by his side. Beloved son of Lou and Barb (Nagy) Mosi; loving brother of Barb (Jeff) Jezerski; cherished uncle of Daniel and Nicole Jezerski; first cousin of Dawn (Scott) Tomich, Jeffrey Jones, Valerie (Jay) Holt, Marianne (Alex) Vlacos, Rose Naquin, Alan (Kim) Mosi, and the late Andrea (survived by Ike) Carroll, Candy Jones and Jacqueline Conlin. Michael was born in Pittsburgh on July 16, 1965. Upon graduating from Baldwin High School in 1983, he worked in several restaurants, including the Embassy of Italy - Washington, DC ('84-'85), Bilbo Baggins - Alexandria, VA ('85-'86), Il Villano, Westport, CT ('86-'87), and Classy’s Restaurant, Pittsburgh, PA ('87-'88) before attending Penn State University for Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management while working at the Hotel State College ('88-'91). He knew from the age of 17 that cooking was his passion. He was always in the kitchen, especially at family get-togethers. After graduating from Penn State, he worked for the Mt. Vernon Inn - Mount Vernon, VA ('90), Santacafé - Santa Fe, NM (’92-’93), Tempo Restaurant - Washington, DC, Graceland Southern Cuisine - Hamburg, Germany ('94-'96), and Antonia’s - Key West, FL ('96-'08). In 2007, he became the Chef/Co-Owner of Azur Restaurant in Key West with best friend of 35 years, Drew Wenzel. Michael's Italian and Hungarian roots were reflected in his passionate, boisterous, jovial, kind and generous nature. He was a master at communicating - whether it was through culinary arts, his talent for the saxophone, love of film, or his knack for languages. Michael always had something to express and always found a way to express it. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to people from his childhood neighborhood and around the globe, many of whom have become like family. He traveled all over the world, including up and down the east coast (NY, DC, CT, VA) and to Germany and Italy for work, and enjoyed vacationing abroad in South Africa, Thailand and Greece. A few years ago, he traveled with his niece Nicole to Pistoia, Italy, to visit family, and then to Calabria to visit friends. He recently traveled with his nephew Daniel to Calabria to visit longtime culinary friends Phillip Smith and Antonia Berto to cater a wedding for a friend of their daughter Gulia. Upon returning to the US, they went directly from the airport to West Virginia to celebrate Barb and Jay’s birthdays with Michael’s parents, niece and nephew, and the whole Jezerski family, before flying to San Diego, where he visited Lisa, Jordan and Aaron Friedman, who was like a brother to him. Michael had friends and family all over the world, including his Italian cousins and uncle Mauro, with whom he was very close and visited often. Every time he came back to Pittsburgh, we would have family dinners every night that included friends Bob, Maureen, Anthony, Steve, Karen, Zach, Jacob, and many Pittsburgh cousins. Always a big table and he loved it! Thanks to Drew and Jose Wenzel and the whole Azur family for taking care of things in Key West. Bill Hoebee, his friend and radio personality from Key West put it the best: "You were one of a kind, my friend, and I loved the hell outta ya - you will be missed." A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Williams Hall, 729 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040 beginning at 6 p.m. If desired, donations in Michael's memory may be made to the Michael Mosi Memorial Fund, PO Box 55, Key West, FL 33041. Condolences may be offered for the family at www.GriffithFH.com

Michael W. Mosi

July 16, 1965 - July 30, 2024