Hector Sossi, owner of Roma Café — one of Detroit’s oldest restaurants — died Jan. 23. He was 92.

Born in Cleveland, Sossi returned to his parents’ native Italy where he was raised and educated. At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Army to fight for his native country in World War II.

Following the war, Sossi came to Detroit and began working with his uncle, Morris Sossi, at Roma Café in the Eastern Market area of Detroit. He worked his way up and eventually became owner of the restaurant, after marrying his late wife Stella Martinico, the restaurant’s bookkeeper.

Sossi was a member of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, the Detroit Golf Club and the Detroit Athletic Club.

He is survived by his daughter and business partner, Janet Sossi Belcoure and her husband, B.J.; and his granddaughter Jessica Belcoure Marcetti and her husband Thomas Belcoure Marcetti.

There will not be a funeral service.