The Montgomery County and greater Washington, D.C. restaurant community is mourning the sudden loss of Maurizio Luise, the Director of Operations for Cava Mezze, who passed away unexpectedly just after midnight on November 8, 2025. He was 46 years old. A fundraiser has been created to help his wife and children.
Luise leaves behind his wife Maria Oliverio Luise and their four young children, Scarlett (11), Jude (7), Bibiana (4), and Gianluca (1), along with a large extended family and countless friends and colleagues. Maurizio and Maria had recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last month.
According to his brother-in-law, “Maurizio passed away suddenly at just 46 years old. The family is shocked, the kids are devastated, and they will need tremendous support.” Luise was a well-known and deeply respected figure in the region’s restaurant industry. He helped lead operations and openings for several well-known establishments, including Cava Mezze, Julii, Melina, Sugo, and Positano Ristorante Italiano, where he first began working in the area over two decades ago. He was admired for his professionalism, warmth, and ability to bring people together, qualities that endeared him to restaurant staff, partners, and guests alike…