BEAUMONT (1080 KRLD) - Texas native and founder of Jason's Deli Joe Tortorice Jr. died Saturday at the age of 70.
The businessman, of Beaumont, had been battling cancer for 19 months.
Tortorice was the grandson of Italian immigrants, and founded Jason's Deli in Beaumont in 1976. Later, he expanded the business nationwide. Today, the restaurant chain has over 250 locations in 29 states.
Tortorice earned his bachelor's degree at Texas A&M, then his master's at Lamar. He spent two years in the Air Force.
A cousin, RC Tortorice, told the Houston Chronicle that family and faith were the most important things to Joe Tortorice, and that he treated employees like family. Funeral arrangements are pending.
