Marion Scotto, Rosanna Scotto's mom and Fresco matriarch, dies at 90

Marion Scotto, the beloved mother of FOX 5 anchor Rosanna Scotto and the "heart of Fresco by Scotto," died at 90, her daughter announced on Aug. 26, 2026. The restaurateur co-founded the family's Midtown Manhattan eatery in 1993 and became a familiar face on Good Day New York alongside her daughter. For more than three decades, "Mama Scotto" greeted diners at the family's Midtown Manhattan restaurant as if they were guests in her own home, treating presidents, celebrities, and everyday New Yorkers with equal warmth.

Key Takeaways

• Marion Scotto, mother of Good Day New York co-host Rosanna Scotto, died at age 90 on Aug. 26, 2026.
• She helped launch Fresco by Scotto in 1993 after mortgaging the family Brooklyn home.
• Rosanna Scotto returned to air Sept. 1 and became emotional during a live broadcast while mourning her mother.
• Marion was a mother of four, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother who considered family her greatest accomplishment.
• Her husband Anthony died in 2021 after more than 60 years of marriage.

Who was Marion Scotto, the 'heart of Fresco by Scotto'?

Marion Scotto became a New York institution long before most diners knew her daughter's name on television. When Fresco by Scotto opened in Midtown Manhattan in 1993, Marion took what Rosanna Scotto called a tremendous "leap of faith," mortgaging the Brooklyn home where she and her late husband Anthony raised their family.

The gamble paid off. Fresco by Scotto remains family-owned and famous for classic Italian dishes, fresh pasta, and hospitality that made world leaders, Hollywood stars, and generations of New Yorkers feel at home. Marion became a familiar face on FOX 5 as well, joining Rosanna for holiday broadcasts and sharing recipes and family traditions on air.

How did Rosanna Scotto honor her mother after her death?

Rosanna Scotto announced her mother's passing in a lengthy tribute on social media on Aug. 26. "To the world, Marion Scotto became known as the heart of Fresco by Scotto. But to us, she was simply Mom," she wrote, according to Page Six.

She recalled that Marion believed in her family, in hard work, and that welcoming every guest as though they were entering your home would bring success. Marion measured the restaurant's achievements not by its celebrity clientele but by whether people left feeling cared for and well fed.

Condolences poured in from famous friends including Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Andy Cohen, Gloria Gaynor, and others. As live broadcasts and social platforms shape how public figures share personal loss, stories like this continue to draw wide attention across Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage of media and culture.

Why did Rosanna Scotto cry live on Good Day New York?

On her first day back at work, Sept. 1, Rosanna Scotto became overcome with emotion during the morning broadcast. B.J. Thomas's "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" played ahead of the weather forecast and reminded her of her parents.

"Sorry, sorry. This song reminds me of my parents," Scotto, 68, said as she struggled to regain composure. She thanked viewers for their support and joked that her mother "would kill me right now if she saw me crying on the air." Co-anchor Dan Bowens and meteorologist Mike Woods offered comfort on set.

Scotto had shared an Instagram video marking her return, saying her mother would have wanted her back at work. After her father died in 2021, Marion had the family back in the restaurant that same night.

What legacy did Marion Scotto leave for her family?

Marion Scotto was a mother of four, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother. Rosanna Scotto wrote that her mother's greatest achievement was not Fresco by Scotto but the family she built. She poured herself into her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, celebrating every milestone and comforting every disappointment.

Her legacy, Rosanna wrote, is one of "generosity, resilience, hospitality, and love." She taught her family to work hard without complaining, to take risks when they believed in something, and to always make room for one more person. Scotto ended her tribute hoping her mother had been reunited with Anthony, who died in 2021 after more than 60 years of marriage: "Your table will always be set in our hearts."