Battista Locatelli Obituary (1931 - 2025)

Battista Locatelli - Vegas legend, opera-singing restaurateur, and the man who outran Father Time. Battista Locatelli (93) crossed his final finish line with family by his side in Parowan, Utah on October 31, 2025. Battista lived a HUGE life unconstrained by his humble origin as the second of twelve children born in Bergamo, Italy on December 10, 1931. He moved to America, establishing his dual citizenship, in 1948. He married the woman of his dreams, Rio Bornholt in 1952. After years of manual labor, he showed up at the back door of the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1955 looking for a new opportunity. Battista assured the kitchen boss that he would never hire a harder working employee, and they never would. Battista rose from kitchen help to the personal waiter of various Hollywood movie stars. Battista and Rio had four children before moving to Las Vegas in 1969. With Rio and his children: Pier, Desiree, Gigli, and Heidi, he opened what is now the beloved Battista’s Hole in the Wall restaurant, on May 1st, 1970. The small family cafe with Rio cooking and Battista singing to the customers grew to become THE Vegas hotspot for locals and tourists, movers and shakers, casino executives, showgirls, and mobster lawyers alike. Battista’s energy, unfiltered humor, love of people and home-grown wisdom had us all standing up straighter with our shoulders back and speaking with an Italian accent. In his lifetime he did a little of everything: opera singer, truck driver, restaurateur, marathoner, mountain runner, airplane pilot, diet/fitness guru, and tireless advocate for what would become the Las Vegas Marathon. He would shock complete strangers by giving them unsolicited advice: “The secret to success is to give people service , service, service!” or “You’re too fat! Look at how fit I am! You must eat more vegetables!” Somehow his character succeeded in transforming and lifting up the many people whose lives he touched. When at a hotel or restaurant, Battista loved slipping in the back and handing out money to people scrubbing the floors and washing dishes - he never forgot how he first started out. And we will never forget him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Rio Locatelli, and his two sisters Giannina, Tina, and his brother Mario. He leaves behind four children (Pier Marsh (Randy), Desiree Locatelli (Todd), Gigli Locatelli, Heidi Pearson (Jerry)), twelve grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild The family extends deepest gratitude to Richard Hall and the caregivers who made Battista’s final lap as dignified as his first. In his final days, when asked how he was doing, Battista said, “Well...I’ve got one foot in the grave, and another on a banana peel, so….Arrivederci!” A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at 12 noon at Grace Christian Church 845W. 200 S. Parowan, UT 84761. Final arrangements are under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To share online condolences, please visit www.mortuary.org.