While Marc Hill honors his Sicilian Mother's memory, he does come from a diverse background. His Grandfather was German, born in 1879 and his Grandmother was Native American and Scottish/Irish.
His Mother's parents were Anthony and Genevieve Roppolo who were married in 1922 and had two daughters, Rosalie (born 1924) and Eleanor (born 1931).
After traveling to the U.S. from Sicily, Anthony and Genevieve Roppolo opened a grocery store during the great depression feeding the entire neighborhood for over 45 years. They wouldn't allow anyone to go hungry.
As a young child Marc was no stranger to hard work. He worked in the family grocery store from the age of 8 to 18 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday...even on the weekends. By the time he reached the ripe old age of 12, he was a clerk, stocker, and butcher and was left alone to run the store by age 16. By this time, Hubert had taken over the store and worked 80-100 hours a week.
Hubert Thomas Hill met Rosalie Roppolo in 1940 when he was 19 she was 16. So in love, they were married just two months later on April 14th, 1940.
They were married 59 years until her death at the age of 75. Both Hubert and Rosalie were stricken with polio, she at age 8 and he at age 35. They never thought of themselves as handicapped. Instead they spent their lives caring for their children, four boys and two girls, all four of the children's four Grandparents along with everyone in the neighborhood. In fact Rosalie opened her home to anywhere from 30 to 50 guests every weekend! She never knew a stranger and doted on her 6 children (mostly from the kitchen) in true Sicilian Mama fashion.
It's easy to see where Marc acquired his entrepreneurial spirit unbelievable work ethic.
His father, Hubert was a bomber pilot in WWII and an amazing husband until his passing in August of 2008. They were as close as a Father and Son could be. Hubert was ever present for each and every sporting event, science project and extra curricular activity each of his children participated in. He was also crop duster and sold real estate in Dallas in the 40's. This hard working man also sold insurance and worked for the Texas Catholic Newspaper before taking over my grandfathers grocery store in 1964 until 1977. At the age of 57 he went to work for Cox newspaper for 10 years until he retired in 1988.
Hubert Thomas Hill was rich in life in a way most never experience.
Roppolo's Pizzeria, The Beginning:
Marc Hill has always been a driven individual with an entrepreneurial spirit. It was in the 80's that he became a personal trainer at a popular gym in New York City. Walking through the hustle and bustle of every day Manhattan, he was awoken by the smell of delicious, fresh baked bread and was compelled to follow it. It turned out to be a local pizzeria called La Prima Strada.
After becoming a 4 to 5 day a week regular at the pizzeria, Marc was shocked to find the place closed at his usual lunch time one day. Ever determined, he walk to the corner Citibank and took out $500 in quarters, 1's and 5's. He went back to La Prima Strada and told the cook, Mario open the door and start making pizza. "You will make the pizza and I will sell the pizza." Mario was a bit puzzled at first and Marc simply said, "Let's Go!"
This went on for about three days when the owner, Armando returned to find the register full and patrons standing in line. He asked what Marc was doing which he return with a smile saying, "Hey, someone had to open the store."
Over the next 8 months, Armando took young Marc under his wing taking him to pizzerias in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Manhattan. They visited the Bronx Market and Marc learned from "old school" Italians and Sicilians to make delicious, homemade sauce and dough.
Over the next 6 months, Marc spent 10 hours a day in the pizzeria working for no pay just to learn everything he possibly could. He wanted to make the exact same pizza that Armando was making.
It was an experience unique in every way and this was just the beginning...
Over 23 years ago, Marc decided to move to Austin, Tx. and open his own amazing pizzeria called Roppolo's in honor of his mother, Mama Rosalie Roppolo. Since then, he has served fantastic food to over 10 million locals, visitors, and celebrities alike!
