Joseph Anthony "Jay" Bonomolo

Joseph Anthony “Jay” Bonomolo, Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 8, 2025 at the age of 72. He was a proud native of New Orleans and lived in the Baton Rouge area since Hurricane Katrina.

Jay was born to Joseph Anthony Bonomolo, Sr. and Willa Mae Arceneaux Bonomolo on August 6, 1952.

Jay was preceded in death by his first wife, Kathy Waguespack Bonomolo, with whom he shared his four children, and loved until she passed away in 1992.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Jay was displaced from his beloved New Orleans and relocated to Baton Rouge, where he found love again with Catrina Miller. The couple married in 2007 and loved each other unconditionally until his last breath.

Jay is survived by his wife, Catrina; his children, Allison Yates (Dustin), Jason, Michael, and Tony Bonomolo; his stepson, Bryan Martinez (Joley); and his cherished grandchildren, Avery and Bennett Yates, Finn and Vivian Bonomolo, and Adelynn Martinez.

Jay was a graduate of De La Salle High School in New Orleans and Louisiana State University. Jay was deeply connected to the New Orleans culture and community and leaves behind a legacy defined by dedication, love, and resilience.

Jay was a third-generation owner of Toney’s Spaghetti House, the legendary Bourbon street restaurant, in New Orleans, where he carried forward his family’s tradition of culinary excellence and hospitality. After a career in the

restaurant industry, he transitioned into the legal field as a paralegal, earning a reputation as a diligent and resourceful researcher. His friends and colleagues affectionately called him "The Digger," a testament to his persistence and skill.

Jay loved to tell stories from his days and nights at Toney’s Spaghetti House, participating in Mardi Gras organizations as a young child, photographing musical legends at LSU, and anything involving New Orleans history. He could spend hours going through old photo albums, loved to reminisce about old family recipes, and even though he was no longer in the restaurant business, he would always take to time to discuss any memories people had of Toney’s Spaghetti House.

His legacy will be remembered by all who knew him as a man of unwavering dedication, boundless curiosity, and enduring love for his family and community.

His family will celebrate his life privately.