Santina P. Cricchio, who was a familiar figure in Little Italy for decades and was known for her Italian cooking, died Saturday of congestive heart failure at Brinton Woods Post Acute Care Center in Rosedale. She was 85.
The daughter of Santo Presti and Maria Presti, bar owners, Santina Presti was born at home on Washington Street and raised on Central Avenue.
After graduating in 1947 from Catholic High School on Edison Highway, she went to work as a secretary at the old Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co.
In 1954, she married Anthony "Nino" Cricchio, who eventually took over operation of the Spring Garden Cafe, her parents' bar at Central Avenue and Lombard Street.
Mrs. Cricchio's husband and his brother, Domenico "Mimmo" Cricchio, opened Caesar's Den in the 200 block of S. High St. in Little Italy, which would later be owned by her daughter, Tina DeFranco, and her husband, Guido DeFranco.
Mrs. Cricchio worked in the restaurant with her husband and later her daughter and son-in-law until about 15 years ago.
"She'd sit at a table near the door and, if it was a nice day, on a bench outside of the restaurant," said Mrs. DeFranco. "She was always a presence there."
Caesar's Den closed in 2013.
Mrs. Cricchio was an accomplished Italian cook.
"She loved to cook, and her goal was to fatten America," said her daughter with a laugh. "And she loved having people over for dinner."
Favorite dishes, her daughter said, included pasta with sardines, rice balls and eggplant salad.
"She always loved experimenting in the kitchen," said Mrs. DeFranco. "One of her staples when she had friends over was oysters Rockefeller. She'd scrub the shells and shuck the oysters. They were so good."
Mrs. Cricchio enjoyed traveling, playing bingo and crocheting.
Her husband died in 2002.
She was a longtime communicant of St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, 227 S. Exeter St., Little Italy, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Cricchio is survived by her son, the Rev. Santo Cricchio of Atlanta; two grandchildren; and many cousins.