By Stephen Appezzato
RED BANK – Steve Napolitani, founder of Mr. Pizza Slice, passed away Christmas Eve at 76, leaving a legacy that stretches far beyond his fabled slices.
Throughout Napolitani’s 44 years in the business, Mr. Pizza Slice, an eatery on Monmouth Street, wasn’t just a place to grab a quick slice – it was a community hub, a place where friends were made, stories were shared and everyone who walked through the door was treated like family.
For many, Mr. Pizza Slice was a favorite community hub in Red Bank.
“He was the business. He made it successful because he was there and everyone came to see him. It wasn’t just a pizza,” recalled Napolitani’s daughter, Jodi.
For Jodi, her brother Steve Jr. and many others, Napolitani’s business fostered countless memories.
“High school kids from Red Bank Catholic made it their go-to place on half days and after school it became a hangout for high school kids,” Steve Jr. recounted.
“People would come and just stand at the counter, rather than sit down in the back. They’d order lunch and we’d have about six, seven guys just standing at the counter enjoying their lunch, talking about sports,” he said. “My dad (was) involved in the conversations as well while he’s working. So it was just like a real sense of community.”
It wasn’t just the shop that was called Mr. Pizza Slice; while serving pizza for over four decades, Napolitani became synonymous with the name. Even while slinging his locally famous pies, Italian hot dogs, circle fries and more, six days a week, Napolitani was always paying attention to his customers. “He was just always making conversation with everybody and every person that came in. He really got to know them as a person and they got to know him too,” said Jodi.
Napolitani was born and raised in Long Branch, where he was first introduced to the pizza business as a teen working at Nunzio’s. After serving as a cook in the U.S. Army, at 21 Napolitani opened Mr. Pizza Slice on Monmouth Street. According to his obituary, he married his wife Geri Rendish in 1972, building a life together and a family in West Long Branch. After surviving cancer at age 33, he made it his mission to stay healthy and fit.
For many, visits to Mr. Pizza Slice became a special part of life.
“It was a place for us to meet and hang out, grab a bite to eat, laugh, play,” recalled local resident Christian Peter.
“So many wonderful memories.”
Courtesy Jodi and Steve Napolitani
“It was our safe place to go hang out and have fun. We never got out of hand because everybody just had the utmost respect for this man,” he said.
By all accounts, Napolitani was a “class-act gentleman.”
“He welcomed us into his place of business and became a friend, an older role model,” Peter said.
If someone in Red Bank was struggling, Napolitani extended friendship and often slices to those in need.
“He’s done things that I think are the most admirable, admirable things that a human being can do, to help others and not look for approval,” Peter said.
Over the decades, Napolitani left a lasting impression on many. According to his obituary, Napolitani remembered each customer who came into the shop – their birthdays, families’ birthdays, anniversaries, life stories and other special events. Alongside their favorite orders, of course.
“Around the holiday time people would bring him bottles of wine,” Steve Jr. recalled. “It was, instead of him almost thanking the customers, customers just thanking him for being there,” he said.
After retiring in 2013 and later selling the business, Napolitani spent much time at the beach and on his porch, hanging out with his gym, poker and Mr. Pizza Slice friends.
“He had friends in all realms,” Steve Jr. said.
In addition to his children, Napolitani is survived by Jodi’s husband Mark Gesell and their children Bella, Luca, and Gia; Steven’s wife Jennifer and their children Grant, Wren and Cort; and his brother Jimmy, among others.
The article originally appeared in the January 9 – 15, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
