Michael Robilio Brings It Full Circle

By: Tripp Vistica

March 10

Inside Lucchesi’s Restaurant where you can purchase a variety of their Italian food. The customer can buy their food already cooked, pre-cooked or just the ingredients to make at home.

            Owner of Lucchesi’s Italian Restaurant, Michael Robilio, is a man that enjoys giving back. He spends a lot of time giving back to the Memphis community, but especially to the organizations that have given him so much to be thankful for.

            Robilio is the father to three children, Gaia and twins, Alex and Anna. Gaia is Robilio’s oldest son, and 15 years ago Gaia was diagnosed with leukemia while on ski trip in Colorado. When Gaia was returned to Memphis, he was immediately admitted to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. 

            Robilio’s only daughter, Anna, stepped up by donating some of her bone marrow to help save her brother’s life, and it is a very painful process to donate bone marrow. 

            The bone marrow transplant operation was a success. The doctors along with Anna’s help were able to save Gaia’s life, allowing him to go to Knoxville where he would graduate from UT and meet his wife, Lily.

            Without the help of St. Jude and Gaia’s sister, Anna, Michael Robilio would not be a new grandfather today. A week ago, Lily gave birth to Virginia Rose Robilio.

            Robilio gives back to St. Jude, because all they did for his entire family, especially Gaia. However, he doesn’t like to talk about it.

            “That’s a tough subject,” Robilio said.

The CBHS Choir sings during the annual “Taste of CBHS” fundraiser. The choir has been a tradition of the fundraiser from its’ beginning in 2011 to provide entertainment.

            Michael Robilio really loves to give back to CBHS (Christian Brothers High School) where is graduated in 1969. Both his sons also graduated from CBHS. Gaia graduated in 2006 and Alex in 2009. 

            Eight years ago, then President of CBHS, Brother Chris Englert, approached Robilio to ask if he would chair the school’s new fundraiser, “A Taste of CBHS.” Robilio liked the idea and would go on to chair the event for three years. 

            After Robilio decided it was a good idea to rotate who chairs the event, Robilio has become a sponsor and a participant in the event every year. That is how he stays connected to the CBHS event.

During the “Taste of CBHS” fundraiser, Lucchesi’s ravioli was a huge succes and went fast, despite that they only served one ravioli at a time.

            “A Taste of CBHS” has been a huge success for the school. According to Robilio, they raised over $40,000 for the school in the first year of the event. 

2019’s “Taste of CBHS” filled Heffernan Hall on the campus of CBHS with alumni and their families. The CBHS alumni in attendance spanned from the 1950s to the early 2000s.

            CBHS Principal, Chris Fay, believes this year’s event chairman, Alex Grisanti, helped move this event in a, “very positive direction.” However, he believes that Robilio is responsible for the event’s growth over the years by getting other alumni interested and volunteering for the event.

            “Mike got the whole thing started. Got it off the ground,” said Fay.

Michael Robilio in his own words about giving back to his community.