Phil Pisciotta Jr., a longtime produce industry veteran, died at his home surrounded by family June 28. He was 87.

Mr. Pisciotta was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Kansas City, MO, and attended Wentworth Military Academy, after which he and his wife, Mary Louise, were stationed in Japan following World War II.

Mr. Pisciotta began his career at Pisciotta Fruit & Vegetable Co. upon returning to the United States. He climbed the company ladder, ultimately managing the fresh produce division. The family business had been founded in 1900 and continued to build through three generations until it was sold in 2000.

“For many years Pisciotta Fruit & Vegetable Co. was the white tablecloth foodservice wholesaler extraordinaire,” said Anthony Totta, consultant at FreshXperts LLC. “The reputation that the four brothers — Phil, Willie, Russ and Joe — upheld was tremendous. The company was started by their father, Phillip Pisciotta Sr. Then in the 1980s Phil Jr. and this three sons, Phillip, Russ and Ray, continued the tradition into the third generation.

“I worked for them and learned the wholesale business from them,” Totta said. “My grandfather and father brought me up in the retail grocery business, but I learned the wholesale business from this Pisciotta family. I thank God regularly for the journey he has taken me on in our industry. Working at Pisciotta Fruit & Vegetable was one of the highlights and a wonderful place to work.”

Mr. Pisciotta’s sons assisted him in operating the 100-year-old family business for the final 35 years of its existence.

“I have many memories of Mr. Pisciotta,” said Totta. “He was a kind gentle and professional man. He was a fair trader in our industry and led the way as far as setting quality standards in the Kansas City market for fresh produce. Mr. Pisciotta was a true industry gentleman. He served his suppliers as much as they served him — a one-of-a-kind man.”

"I don’t think there’s a person in the world who met Phil and didn’t love him,” said Chuck Olsen, chief executive officer of Chuck Olsen Co. "Even his competitors loved him. He had a very quiet, soft way of going about his life. He was a true gentleman and his word was his bond.

"He and I had been very good friends and he was a customer of mine since 1974,” Olsen said. "We did a lot of business and it developed into a wonderful friendship between us — and our families. I cherish those moments very much — even hearing my phone ringing and it was Phil — all those moments are very special to me. I can’t say enough good about Phil. He was a wonderful father and raised a beautiful family. His kids have got the same core values that he did and they’re wonderful people.

“I started working with Junior Pisciotta in the early 1970s when I was a salesman for Sunkist Growers Inc. in the Kansas City area,” said Steve Probstfield, who is retired but was formerly with Clifford Produce, NationFresh and Sunkist. “He was always very pleasant to work with and was a true gentleman in every respect of his business dealings. It didn't take long to recognize the fact that his personal integrity and business ethics meant a lot to him. He always took the time to talk with me on the phone or when I visited their location on the city market.

“He was fun to be around and I'm not sure when this transpired, but I eventually called him ‘June Bug,’” Probstfield said. “I guess that was because everyone called him 'Junior.' The last time we talked, he still remembered that.

“He was a prince of a man,” Probstfield added. “His family lost a true patriarch, and the produce industry lost a true statesman. He will be missed.”

Mr. Pisciotta is survived by his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Randy Bull; his three sons, Ray and his wife, Kathy, Russ and his wife, Julia, and Phillip and his wife, Kathleen; as well as nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years, Mary Louise; his parents, Phil Sr. and Margret; and his brothers, Russell, Joseph and Willie.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 1 from 5-8 p.m. at Mount Moriah Funeral Home at 10507 Holmes Road in Kansas City, MO. Burial will take place Thursday, July 2 at 2 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kansas City.