When superstorm Sandy shut down virtually everything along the Bayshore in October 2012, Attilio’s Pizzeria stayed open, its gas-powered kitchen pumping out pies by candlelight for locals in need.

In 2020, during the harrowing early stages of the COVID pandemic, the longtime Matawan-Aberdeen staple donated food to local first responders and senior citizens in nearby Cheesequake Village.

The Scotto Di Frega family opened Attilio’s in 1970 and have run it for five-plus decades on Cliffwood Avenue at the Matawan-Aberdeen boundary. Last week, a fire destroyed their home in Marlboro.

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“They’re always doing stuff for the community,” said Matawan resident Joy Panizzi, a loyal customer. “Now it’s time for the community to help them.”

A relative launched a GoFundMe campaign titled, “Help Family Recover From Fire.” It doesn’t mention Attilio’s or the family’s name. It’s raised more than $11,000 so far.

“My family is not one to ask for anything,” said Mike Scotto Di Frega, a Jamesburg resident whose parents and younger siblings lived in the gutted home. 

Additional school- and church-based fundraisers and gift-card collections are underway.

“We’ve been more than overwhelmed by the reaction,” said Joan Scotto Di Frega, whose husband Antonio is Attilio’s patriarch and still makes the restaurant’s sauce by hand. “Family members, strangers, everybody has been reaching out.”

Only one of the house’s six residents was there when the fire started. Angela Scotto Di Frega, a senior at Marlboro High School, “heard a popping sound in another room, and our dog started barking,” Joan Scotto Di Frega said. “She went over to see what (the dog) was barking at and there were already flames in the dining room.”

According to Patch.com, 75 firefighters and 10 EMS workers responded to the fire, which took 45 minutes to contain and damaged 80% of the four-bedroom house on Clayton Road.

Angela and the dog escaped unharmed, but one of the family’s cats died and another is missing. Virtually all the home’s contents were destroyed. Although the house is insured, some of the items — photo albums, heirlooms and the like — are irreplaceable. They’ve lived there for 25 years.

“Our whole life was wiped away,” Joan Scotto Di Frega said.

Her son Mike Scotto Di Frega believes a failed power strip caused the blaze (the official cause has yet to be determined). It could take a year for the house to be rebuilt. Right now, its residents are staying with relatives in the area.

“The support everyone has shown has been amazing,” said Mike Scotto Di Frega, 32, who also works in the family business. “We’re thankful and grateful.”

Attilio’s closed Sept. 23, the day after the fire, and posted a note on its Facebook page citing a “family emergency.” But Antonio Scotto Di Frega — who is 70 and on the verge of retirement — still showed up at the shop that morning to accept a delivery truck’s shipment so Attilio’s could reopen the following day.

“It was fresh calamari, cheese, all kinds of stuff,” Mike Scotto Di Frega said of the drop-off. “People are always going to be hungry.”

Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at [email protected].

Source: Asbury Park

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