He was born Stefano Ignazio Apostle Pecoraro in Brooklyn, N.Y., and running a restaurant was the last thing on his mind when he was young. He wanted to be a dancer. At the age 12 he was performing in neighborhood bars on weekends. His manager was a singing waiter who had him perform when gangsters were there because they gave good tips.
He learned his dance moves by watching the pros. His idol was Gene Kelly. By age 22 he was in Hollywood, where he opened his own studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts, which he kept for 37 years. Jimmy Durante nicknamed him "Teacher of the Stars." His acting career started with small movie roles – many of them as gangsters. But he also played Shirley MacLaine's boyfriend in "Some Came Running." At the urging of MGM studios, he changed his last name to Pec. In 1955, he opened a nightclub, Club Seville, which featured big-name entertainment and drew stars such as Greer Garson, Jimmy Durante, Lana Turner and Maurice Chevalier. Known for his incredibly hard working style, Steve appeared in many TV shows over the years and also started the Stephen Pec Repertory Company and Stephen Pec Jazz Company. He moved to Fullerton in 1971 when he opened a dance studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts. He taught with passion and enthusiasm and easily filled 40 classes a week, some held late at night. Stephen opened his first eatery, Angelo's and Vinci's Cafe, in the old Fox Fullerton Theatre in 1971, then moved to the larger building next door 20 years later. He was a very hands-on owner, who did impromptu dances at weddings held at the restaurant and whose sauce and homemade pasta recipes are still being served today. The restaurant, its employees and customers all became part of his large, Italian family.
Out of respect for his customers, Steve wouldn't go to the restaurant unless he was dressed in suit and tie (some of them quite colorful). He greeted diners with a broad smile and chipper greeting in his raspy voice, his speech still reminiscent of his Brooklyn upbringing. He enjoyed his life, savored traveling to foreign countries, eating gourmet meals, drinking fine wine. His favorite toast, which he offered in his Sicilian dialect, was, "Lots of good things to you, lots of grand things to you – always with health and love." Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante in Fullerton was like a child to Steve. He nurtured it, respected it and showered it with presents.
He learned his dance moves by watching the pros. His idol was Gene Kelly. By age 22 he was in Hollywood, where he opened his own studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts, which he kept for 37 years. Jimmy Durante nicknamed him "Teacher of the Stars." His acting career started with small movie roles – many of them as gangsters. But he also played Shirley MacLaine's boyfriend in "Some Came Running." At the urging of MGM studios, he changed his last name to Pec. In 1955, he opened a nightclub, Club Seville, which featured big-name entertainment and drew stars such as Greer Garson, Jimmy Durante, Lana Turner and Maurice Chevalier. Known for his incredibly hard working style, Steve appeared in many TV shows over the years and also started the Stephen Pec Repertory Company and Stephen Pec Jazz Company. He moved to Fullerton in 1971 when he opened a dance studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts. He taught with passion and enthusiasm and easily filled 40 classes a week, some held late at night. Stephen opened his first eatery, Angelo's and Vinci's Cafe, in the old Fox Fullerton Theatre in 1971, then moved to the larger building next door 20 years later. He was a very hands-on owner, who did impromptu dances at weddings held at the restaurant and whose sauce and homemade pasta recipes are still being served today. The restaurant, its employees and customers all became part of his large, Italian family.
Out of respect for his customers, Steve wouldn't go to the restaurant unless he was dressed in suit and tie (some of them quite colorful). He greeted diners with a broad smile and chipper greeting in his raspy voice, his speech still reminiscent of his Brooklyn upbringing. He enjoyed his life, savored traveling to foreign countries, eating gourmet meals, drinking fine wine. His favorite toast, which he offered in his Sicilian dialect, was, "Lots of good things to you, lots of grand things to you – always with health and love." Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante in Fullerton was like a child to Steve. He nurtured it, respected it and showered it with presents.
He was born Stefano Ignazio Apostle Pecoraro in Brooklyn, N.Y., and running a restaurant was the last thing on his mind when he was young. He wanted to be a dancer. At the age 12 he was performing in neighborhood bars on weekends. His manager was a singing waiter who had him perform when gangsters were there because they gave good tips.
He learned his dance moves by watching the pros. His idol was Gene Kelly. By age 22 he was in Hollywood, where he opened his own studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts, which he kept for 37 years. Jimmy Durante nicknamed him "Teacher of the Stars." His acting career started with small movie roles – many of them as gangsters. But he also played Shirley MacLaine's boyfriend in "Some Came Running." At the urging of MGM studios, he changed his last name to Pec. In 1955, he opened a nightclub, Club Seville, which featured big-name entertainment and drew stars such as Greer Garson, Jimmy Durante, Lana Turner and Maurice Chevalier. Known for his incredibly hard working style, Steve appeared in many TV shows over the years and also started the Stephen Pec Repertory Company and Stephen Pec Jazz Company. He moved to Fullerton in 1971 when he opened a dance studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts. He taught with passion and enthusiasm and easily filled 40 classes a week, some held late at night. Stephen opened his first eatery, Angelo's and Vinci's Cafe, in the old Fox Fullerton Theatre in 1971, then moved to the larger building next door 20 years later. He was a very hands-on owner, who did impromptu dances at weddings held at the restaurant and whose sauce and homemade pasta recipes are still being served today. The restaurant, its employees and customers all became part of his large, Italian family.
Out of respect for his customers, Steve wouldn't go to the restaurant unless he was dressed in suit and tie (some of them quite colorful). He greeted diners with a broad smile and chipper greeting in his raspy voice, his speech still reminiscent of his Brooklyn upbringing. He enjoyed his life, savored traveling to foreign countries, eating gourmet meals, drinking fine wine. His favorite toast, which he offered in his Sicilian dialect, was, "Lots of good things to you, lots of grand things to you – always with health and love." Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante in Fullerton was like a child to Steve. He nurtured it, respected it and showered it with presents.
He learned his dance moves by watching the pros. His idol was Gene Kelly. By age 22 he was in Hollywood, where he opened his own studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts, which he kept for 37 years. Jimmy Durante nicknamed him "Teacher of the Stars." His acting career started with small movie roles – many of them as gangsters. But he also played Shirley MacLaine's boyfriend in "Some Came Running." At the urging of MGM studios, he changed his last name to Pec. In 1955, he opened a nightclub, Club Seville, which featured big-name entertainment and drew stars such as Greer Garson, Jimmy Durante, Lana Turner and Maurice Chevalier. Known for his incredibly hard working style, Steve appeared in many TV shows over the years and also started the Stephen Pec Repertory Company and Stephen Pec Jazz Company. He moved to Fullerton in 1971 when he opened a dance studio, Stephen Pec Theatre Arts. He taught with passion and enthusiasm and easily filled 40 classes a week, some held late at night. Stephen opened his first eatery, Angelo's and Vinci's Cafe, in the old Fox Fullerton Theatre in 1971, then moved to the larger building next door 20 years later. He was a very hands-on owner, who did impromptu dances at weddings held at the restaurant and whose sauce and homemade pasta recipes are still being served today. The restaurant, its employees and customers all became part of his large, Italian family.
Out of respect for his customers, Steve wouldn't go to the restaurant unless he was dressed in suit and tie (some of them quite colorful). He greeted diners with a broad smile and chipper greeting in his raspy voice, his speech still reminiscent of his Brooklyn upbringing. He enjoyed his life, savored traveling to foreign countries, eating gourmet meals, drinking fine wine. His favorite toast, which he offered in his Sicilian dialect, was, "Lots of good things to you, lots of grand things to you – always with health and love." Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante in Fullerton was like a child to Steve. He nurtured it, respected it and showered it with presents.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
