DENVER (KDVR) — One of Colorado's most influential businessmen has died: James "Jim" Leprino, the chairman of Leprino (previously Leprino Foods), died Thursday, according to the company.
Leprino, born in 1937 in Denver, which would make him 88 years old, spent his childhood with a tightly-knit family rooted in Denver's Italian community. Leprino was called a devoted family man in a notification of his death shared by the company he chaired.
Charles Burrell, called the ‘Jackie Robinson of Classical Music,’ dies at age 104In an interview with Forbes in 2017, the then-79-year-old billionaire spoke about how his family's grocery store in Little Italy was transformed into the world's largest producer of mozzarella cheese. That's also where he earned the nickname of the "Willy Wonka of cheese." Forbes estimates Leprino's net worth at about $2.1 billion, but other publications have said he could be worth upward of $3 billion.
The store was started by Leprino's father, Mike Sr., who immigrated to the U.S. from Potenza, Italy, in 1950. He opened a grocery store at the corner of 38th and Shoshone Street in Denver, where the family sold its handmade ricotta and scamorza cheese.
James "Jim" Leprino, chairman of Leprino, died Thursday. (Courtesy Leprino)In 1956, Leprino joined the business full-time. Leprino was able to build the business up to where it is now: Not just the world's biggest mozzarella producer, but also a global leader of dairy ingredients. Leprino's mozzarella is used on Pizza Hut, Domino's and Papa John's pizzas and employs over 600 people in Denver.
In a release, Leprino's company said he was known for his "unwavering commitment to the people of Leprino, always ready to offer guidance, support and mentorship."
Leprino is survived by his wife Donna; his daughters Gina (Daniel) Vecchiarelli and Terry Leprino; his granddaughters Gianna Vecchiarelli and Francesca (Geordie) Lukas; great-granddaughter, Sofia Lukas; as well as countless nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mike Sr. and Susie (Pergola), and siblings Lou, Mike Jr., Ange Testa and Marie Videtto.
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