Frederick Joseph DiGiulio
Friends report that Ajijic resident Fred Joseph DiGiulio died August 18 “with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other,” in the presence of his best friend of 46 years, Mark Bennett.
Born April 24, 1948, in Laurel, Mississippi, DiGiulio graduated from the Jesuit High School in Shreveport, and then attended Louisiana State University (LSU). He lived in the Baton Rouge area most of his life.
DiGiulio was the primary founder of DiGiulio Brothers Italian Café, which recently celebrated 27 years in business. He was a great father, hopeless romantic and serial husband, home builder, cook and legendary fisherman. He was known for his larger-than-life personality and was happiest when spending time filling everyone around him with joy and laughter.
DiGiulio was a fixture every morning at Café Negro in Ajijic. He drank coffee and ate breakfast with friends, Andrew Vides and Joey Montalto, along with a coterie of others as they discussed and cussed the day’s events.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law; Juan and Samantha DiGiulio of Durham, North Carolina; step-children Meagan Guidry, Tyler Cliburn and Carrie Cliburn, all of Baton Rouge, former wives Susan Head, Renee Stickels and Laurelle Cliburn, and brothers John of Baton Rouge, Robert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Richard of Durham.