TRIBUTES have poured in for a much-loved former chip shop owner after he passed away.

Mario Bacci, who was 79, sadly died after suffering a heart attack last week.

Mario ran Mario's Snack Bar in Shore Street in Gourock for more than 40 years before he decided to sell the shop in 2007.

Son Warren and daughter Cordelia spoke to our sister newspaper The Greenock Telegraph about their dad’s passion for the much-loved chippy and his dedication to his family in Scotland and in Italy.

Due to the coronavirus lockdown, Mario's family sadly can't get together for the funeral but are planning a memorial service in Scotland later this year.

Warren said: "Our dad divided his time between Barga, in Tuscany, and Gourock but he always felt closer to Gourock.

"It felt like home to him as he spent more than 50 years there.

"He worked extremely hard and had a very good work ethic which he has passed onto Cordelia and I.

"We're both very hard-working and business-minded, just like our dad. "

Mario was originally from Barga - which is known as the most Scottish town in Italy - and he emigrated here in the late 1960s.

He initially worked as a waiter in Glasgow and in silver service at the Marine and Curlinghall Hotel in Largs before opening Mario’s in 1968.

Mario married Pauline McWilliams at St John’s Church in Gourock in March 1973 and the couple went on to have two children together - Warren, now 40, and Cordelia, 43.

Mario and Pauline divorced in the late 1980s but over the last 10 years they rekindled their friendship and together were fantastic grandparents to Cordelia's son, Conor.

The dedicated Gourock businessman opened the chippy at the time when American sailors would regularly arrive in Gourock, followed by busloads of girls from Glasgow.

Mario even had to order in ketchup and Coca-Cola to keep up with demand.

Events at the Bay Hotel and the Gantock Hotel were great for the shop, and Mario was famous for serving a traditional haddock fish tea.

Warren and Cordelia would help in the shop when the queue stretched far beyond the door of the shop and people were sharing tables.

Mario’s was sadly damaged by fire in 1991 and again in 2005 – but the dedicated owner kept going until he decided to sell the premises in 2007.

The devoted dad and grandfather had a triple bypass 10 years ago but still retained his love for travel, languages and fantastic food, dividing his time between Gourock and Barga in his retirement.

Cordelia, a modern languages teacher who is based in Italy, said: "After he had the operation he changed his lifestyle as he knew he had my wedding and Warren’s wedding coming up.

"He was very intellectual.

"He was an avid reader and spoke several languages and he was so proud that I became a modern languages teacher.

"He was all for working really hard and going on a good holiday.

"When we were kids, we used to do the drive to Italy every summer and we did it again two years ago after a gap of 20 years.

"He loved cooking and entertaining.

"When he was in Italy, Conor and I would spend Saturdays with him and he would make sure we had a three-course lunch.”

Pauline's son Steven, 29, who lives in Dumbarton, delivered essentials to Mario in Gourock during the coronavirus lockdown.

Mario loved cooking and as a single man he would still take the time to cook fantastic meals for himself.

Even in his years after retirement, the chip shop was always in his heart.

Warren, who is founder of Top Talent Agency and now based in St Albans, said: "We've received so many lovely comments about my dad being a generous man.

"Our friends have talked about how he loved to cook and made great meals.

"He had a great love of history and loved travelling to France, Germany and America, especially Florida.

"He visited so many places and loved his holidays.

"Dad really loved his time in the chip shop and knew when it was the right time to sell.

"He got to know all of the customers and was very well-known.

"He was very passionate about it throughout his life."