Slain Restaurant Owners

* Re “Friends Express Disbelief Over Stabbing of Couple,” Nov. 25.

About five years ago, I dropped by this little Italian restaurant on a little side street in North Hollywood. . . . [At] Sabatino’s, I was met by an older gentleman who greeted me like a long lost uncle--gregarious, happy and helpful to take my takeout order. He threw in some cookies as I left. The food was good, not fancy but good solid Italian pasta with a thick sauce.

I later took my mother and family there. Learning she was Italian, Sabato Russo began an animated conversation with her in Italian.

When Sabato was there, the house was always more lively and friendly. It just had the feeling of an old-style Hollywood / Valley restaurant. It was friendly and felt like family and tradition that mostly faded away years ago in this town.

What a terrible end for such a good man. Not an uncommon story in L.A., but one that affected me.

Coming home Thanksgiving evening, after a big turkey meal at my sister’s, I sat in my cold room alone and felt the harshness of the city, of this life.

JOHN JOHNSON

North Hollywood