Martin Rini, Renowned Local Restaurateur

There were very few people in the western suburbs of Cleveland who did not know Martin Rini, the legendary bartender of the renowned high class restaurant called the Blue Fox. In the 1970's and 1980's, almost everyone from the West Side of Cleveland, including local and national politicians, judges, corporate figureheads, professional athletes, show business celebrities, and even priests, had eaten there, and had gotten to know the lively man who knew their and everyone's name. Martin Rini, 68, of Westlake, died on January 15, 2012 after a short and brave battle with cancer.

Rini is survived by his wife Phyllis of 29 years. Rini was the father of 2, the "Grandpa" of 6 and the "Uncle Marty" of 7. After his years with the Blue Fox, he worked for years at Executive Caterers, and then he ran a successful restaurant on the East Side called the "Cedar Street Café." Just before his retirement, he was the long-time and respected beverage manager for the Oakwood Country Club in Cleveland Heights. In his retirement, he had become an active volunteer for Our Lady of the Wayside, the charity that cares for his grandson Michael O'Shea. Just this past summer he walked/ran in his first 5K run for children with disabilities. He was famous among his family and friends for his spaghetti-meatball sauce, which was regularly shared with his many friends and family, especially his grandson Patrick.

Rini was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but soon moved to Parma where he was raised as one of three children of Martin and Helen Rini. He graduated from Benedictine High School in 1961, and thereafter attended Dayton University. Martin Rini, Sr. his father, worked for many years at the Food Terminal in Cleveland. His brother David, a part-time Hollywood actor and agent, passed way in 1992. His sister Jacquie is married to local prominent Rocky River dentist Robert Schmidt.

His son, Marty Rini III, a local cement contractor, said "His unconditional love and all of those tiny little things that only he knew about will be missed. He knew exactly what we needed and how to give us, our wishes and feelings came first. I will miss my best friend." His daughter Gina remarked about his unconditional devotion to his huge family, "He dropped everything when my son Michael, Jr. was born to help with all of his special needs." She added, "My kids Patrick and Helen made a habit out of tricking him into rides and lunches everywhere – although I am sure he just pretended to be tricked." Rini recently had to drive his son-in-law (a local lawyer and city prosecutor) to his driver's license reinstatement test (his license had expired and had to be renewed) because it was technically (temporarily) illegal for his city prosecutor son-in-law to drive without a licensed driver. "I was a nervous wreck that day, and he made me laugh my way through the whole experience," said his son-in-law local attorney Michael O'Shea.

Loving husband of Phyllis; devoted father of Martin P. Rini III , Gina Marie O'Shea (Michael): stepfather of Chuck Patty Jr. and Jennifer Hatchett (Travis); grandfather of Rosemary, Michael, Emily, Patrick, Chase and Helen; son of the late Martin P. Sr. and Helen Rini; brother of Jacquie Schmidt (Dr. Robert) and the late David. Uncle and godfather of Michelle Snyder (Jack) and Matthew Gundic (Chrissy); uncle of Linda Lydrickson (Gary), Kristen Mavis (Alan), Amy Kunde (Eric); cousin of many.

Arrangements are being handled by Busch Funeral Homes. Waking hours are Saturday, January 21, from 1-3:30pm, with a service at the funeral home in Fairview Park on Center Ridge Road at 3:300pm. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve (17876 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland. OH 44110-2602) or Our Lady of the Wayside (8135 Colorado Avenue, Avon, Ohio 44011).