Tributes to restaurateur Renato Onesti whose death is mourned as 'a huge loss' to Dingwall
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A community is mourning the loss of a much-loved fish and chip shop owner, whose death was followed less than a week later by another close family member.
Italian-born Renato Onesti, who ran the popular Renato’s fish and chip shop in Dingwall for many years, died aged 84 on New Year’s Eve.
Less than a week later, the family was reeling from the news that his nephew, Adrian Pieraccini, a visionary restaurateur who established a range of top eating places in Inverness, had passed away suddenly, aged 60.
Mr Onesti, of Bayne Drive, leaves a wife, Rosemary, a son, Roberto, daughter-in-law Karen and two grandchildren, Lia and Katia. His sister Liliana, who lives in Inverness, was Mr Pieraccini’s mother.
Son Roberto – who said his cousin Adrian, was more like a brother and was best man at his wedding – admitted the family was stunned by the deaths so close together.
Renato, who grew up as one of eight siblings in Castelvecchio in Tuscany, came to the Highlands in 1957, aged 21.
“He left Italy to find work because after the war there was not a lot of work in Italy and his sister was in Inverness,” Mr Onesti said.
For the first two years, he worked as a farm labourer near Nairn before moving to Dingwall where he worked at a cafe and ice cream parlour, Donati’s.
He then spent time running a hotel in Inverness before returning to Dingwall where he established Renato’s fish and chip shop in 1964 – the same year he married.
“He was quite renowned in the area,” added Mr Onesti, who now runs the business. “Everyone knew him. He had a passion for Italian cooking although he didn’t get a chance to uses his Italian culinary skills in the fish and chip shop.”
He recalled his father as a perfectionist:”Everything he did had to be right. He was a great family man and he was never happier than when he was with his grandchildren and everyone was at the house.”
His father, who been ill for a couple a years, died in Raigmore Hospital.
A private funeral service took place at Dingwall RC Church yesterday, followed by a burial at Fodderty Cemetery. The family has invited people to give donations to Highland Hospice.
People have also paid tribute on social media. Sandra Mackenzie said: “So sorry to hear of Renato’s passing. I worked with him when he first came to work in Donati’s. We had many good laughs back then.
Former employees including Shona Duffus voiced their sadness: “My first ever boss as a schoolgirl 40 years ago and the best,” she said. “A kinder and more generous man you’ll never meet. He’ll be such a huge miss to Dingwall.”
