THE BRONX, NY - We are saddened to report the loss of Sal Vacca, Founder of Trucco and a beloved member of the produce industry. He passed away on March 22, 2023, at the age of 93.
Sal Vacca immigrated to the United States from Anacapri, Italy, in 1949, to join his cousin Domenico D’Angiola's import business. Starting with grocery items, Vacca eventually began selling chestnuts and canned tomatoes from Italy under his own business. Alfred Trucco, a prominent figure in dried fruits and nuts at the Washington Street Terminal Market in Manhattan, was one of Sal's customers.
Alfred Trucco suggested that he and Sal join companies in 1961, and A.J. Trucco, Inc. was formed. They were among the first to relocate to Hunts Point Market in 1967, where the company continued to grow and evolve over the years.
In 2000, they joined forces with another firm and reorganized, and in 2015, the shares were sold to current Chief Executive Officer and President Nick Pacia.
In a release sent in from the company, Trucco expressed how exceptional of a man Sal was. He remained dedicated to his work and passions well into his mid-80s. He was known for his larger-than-life personality, infectious charm, and unwavering kindness to everyone he met.
He was a beloved Hunts Point Produce Market community member and took great pride in his Italian heritage. Sal was an avid tennis player, a diehard fan of the Napoli professional soccer team, and a gifted cook who regularly prepared meals for his employees even after he retired.
We send our thoughts and prayers to his wife Diane Vacca; his children, Eric Vacca, his wife and children; Lisa Vacca-Brown, her husband Michael Brown, and their two children, Chloe and Brittny; his grandchild, Alexander Vacca Familant; his nephew, Giovanni Vacca, and niece, Olimpia Giardiello. Our hearts are with you during this difficult time.
Sal’s impact on the produce industry and the countless lives he touched will never be forgotten. His legacy will continue to live on through the company he founded and the values he instilled in it.
