The Valley’s hospitality industry was stunned by the death of one of its own last week. Jason “Jay” Key, a restaurant manager at Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale, was killed in a traffic accident on Loop 202 in the early hours of Oct. 31. He was 47 years old.
“Jason was a character, he loved to laugh, he was full of life,” chef and restaurateur Gio Osso said. “He was one of the most positive people I’ve ever met.”
Key had two tours with Osso, first in 2014, then around 2023. Key worked at the chef’s restaurants Virtu Honest Craft, Pizzeria Virtu and the now-shuttered Piccolo Virtu, all in Scottsdale. Osso said Key was “instrumental” in setting the standard for elevated service at Virtu…