When he owned a restaurant in Barnegat Township, Jon Serpico did much more than feed customers. He generously provided hot meals for public works employees and police officers when working around the clock during a snowstorm. And pizza was always on the house when the Barnegat PBA held meetings in a second-floor room at Serpico’s, which was located at 696 East Bay Ave. and is now the home of the East Bay Italian Grille.

Five years ago, Serpico, who was 48 at the time, closed the eatery when he was diagnosed with cancer.