crippa died a week ago at santa rita cottage hospital , seven days after he eaten a heap plate of the pathogen solanum ocreata mushrooms , leaving his wife , virginia crippa . known as " death angel " for its sheet - white appearance , the fungus has deadly toxins that worked their way through crippa ' s system , sickening him and thus causing his kidney to fail . family members had repeatedly advised crippa against indulges in his passion for finding wild mushrooms , an act he studied from his italian immigrant fathers , his husband said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.