AKRON, Ohio — The Akron community is mourning the loss of Michael "Mickey" Ciriello of Luigi’s Restaurant.

According to our Akron Beacon Journal partner , Mickey was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, about a year ago.

Unfortunately, this brief illness led to his death Wednesday.

Now, the 78-year-old’s legacy lives on in the hearts of many people like Natalie Moore.

“It’s a major family tradition. Luigi’s was a big part of my childhood,” said Moore.

Before Moore went inside Luigi’s Thursday, Moore said she had no idea Mickey died until we told her.

Meanwhile, Corrine Lempeck said she and her friend already knew.

“We were at a conference, and we were coming here, and I thought ‘Oh no.’ He had passed away, so I showed her and we’re like we better

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