The Los Angeles Times featured a nice obituary on Edith Carissimi, the 95-year-old restaurateur that (until late 2009) co-owned the legendary Musso & Frank Grill. AKA 'Musso Frank' the restaurant is the oldest in Hollywood, its roots date back to 1919. Edith married into the Grill's 'family'. The original owners, Frank Toulet and Joseph Musso, sold the business in 1926 to John Mosso and Joseph Carissimi (Edith's father-in-law). Joseph passed the reins to Edith's (second) husband Charles and Edith became co-manager upon Charles' death in 1969. She had a pretty amazing life!
*** On a related note, do yourself a favor and read the interesting story of the restaurant's earliest years (when it was known as Frank's Francois Cafe) on page 100 of Gregory Paul Williams' fascinating book The Story of Hollywood which was published in 2005.
