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Zucchero died unexpectedly on March 1 at Rush Medical Center while undergoing treatment for cancer, said his son, Christopher Zucchero, who is a co-owner of the restaurant. “He was supposed to come home,� he said.

Zucchero said the family is waiting to learn exact cause of his father's death.

“He was a magnificent human being. He was charismatic. He loved his restaurant. ... He loved his family, his children,� Zucchero said.

Nothing will be the same at Mr. Beef without his father, Zucchero said.

“There's going to be a huge ... void here,� he said. “I'm in shock. ... We act as if he's still here. That’s kind of how we’re going to maintain and persevere, is to act as if he’s going to come around the corner.�

Mr. Beef's doors stayed open after the elder Zucchero's unexpected passing, his son said.

“We didn’t take any time off" — which is what his dad would have wanted. For 44 years, “Mr. Beef was always open the hours it said it was open," Zucchero said.

The only exceptions: when “The Bear� was shooting, and this Saturday, when his father's burial and services will be held.

“He was a tough human being. He was tough, but he was also fair. He loved everyone,� Zucchero said.

The Italian beef legend was “elated� when Christopher Storer, creator of “The Bear� and a childhood friend of Christopher Zucchero, centered the show on his shop.

“He was very proud of that,� his son said.

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Savage is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.