The border vidette., 1930-12-13
ALEX ROSSI. BELOVED PIONEER,
PASSES AWAY

Alexander Rossi, pioneer Tue
sonan, deletante of the arts,
and friend to mankind, died at
9 o'clock yesterday morning at
his home oa West Congress
street, says yesterdays Tucson
Arizona Daily Star.
Death was attributed to q long
standing heart ailment and was
preceded by several days during
which Mr.. Rossi virtually was
in a state Of coma. He was 70
years old.
Funeral services will be held
at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon
in the chapel of the Reilly I'm
dertaking company. The SER
vices will be conducted by off,
GERS and members of Tucson
Lodge No. 385. B. P. @. e Mr..
Rossi having been a member of
the local lodge for the past six
years Burial will be made in
the Elks' plot of Evergreen ce-
mentery.
The career of Mr.. Rossi par
alleled the history and growth
of the Old Pueblo from the hal
cyon days of the early sos to
the present modern era of the
city. In 1882 he assumed the
ownership and management of
the Columbus bar and cafe, To-
Gated on what is now the North
west corner of Stone avenue
and Congress street, and from
a comparatively small beginn-
ing his place soon took on the
more pretentious atmosphere of
a club, becoming the rendezvous
of those most intimately asso-
ciated with the political and COM
mercial circles of the city. Then,
too, it was a visiting point for
stockmen and mining men oper-
ating in the district. Mr.. Rossi
came to Tucson from Tomb
stone.
Following the advent of pro-
hibition Mr.. Rossi closed his
place of business, somewhat
later opening the International
Casino, located in Nogales, So
nora, but a few yards beyond
the Grand avenue garita. Here
in an old two story brick, res
idence, the former headquarters
of various Mexican military
leaders, Mr.. Rossi conducted
a cafe which was known through
out the southwest and, in addi.
tion, all up and down the Mex
ican west coast, for it's cuisine
and quality Of service.
It was his boast that he only
wished to cater to gentle folk
and his border cafe was distin-
guished by it's quiet atmosphere.
1t became almost a ritual for
his Tucson friends to visit Alexis
place (he was known to his host
of friends only as Alex whene-
yer they were in the Sonora ci-
ty. Almost any afternoon he
might be seen sitting on the por-
tico of the old fashioned build
ing, with chair tilted back, visit
ing with those calling quite OBJ
viously to pay their respects to
an old and honored friend
Though in i'll health for the past
two years he stuck staunchly
with his business until few
weeks ago when he came to Tue
son and took to his bed in the
small brick house which sets far
back on the little eight acre
ranch located on West Congress
street which he purchased for a
home 20 years ago.
Mr.. Rossi's career was as CO.
lorful as it was active. Born at
Castelleone, Cremone, Italy,
Sept. %, 1860, the future Tue
sonan took to travelling while
still a youth. When leaving his
italian home his principal asset,
he would proudly tell one, was
knowledge of the art of cuisine,
learned from his own folk, and
in his wake throughout his jour
ney to far countries there follow
ed a reputation stamping him as
a master host and caterer.
One of his earliest posts was
that of chef in the private reti-
nue. of the noted Italian operatic
singer. Adeline Patti. 7 hen he
served the royalty of England
as a chef at Windsor Castle. He
left this position to come to Anne
pica, landing at Philadelphia.
He next trekked across the con-
tinent to San Francisco where
he served as chef at the famous
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