The Manly community is reeling from the tragic loss of Greek Australian Jimmy Sagiotis, the founder of the popular Sydney burger eatery Salty Rooster, who passed away at age 48. This devastating incident comes just a few years after the untimely death of his partner and mother of their two children.
Jimmy Sagiotis, known for his beloved burger shop in Queenscliff on Sydney's northern beaches, tragically succumbed to multiple heart attacks on October 5.
He is survived by his two sons, Harrison and Hudson, his fiancée Claudine Rochecouste, and her two children, Eli and Amelie.
In a cruel twist of fate, Sagiotis' late wife, Renee, had also passed away under eerily similar circumstances six years ago.
The family released a statement regarding Jimmy's passing: "Jimmy had a minor heart attack Wednesday night, and by the time he got to the hospital in the ambulance, he had additional heart attacks that required serious treatment. No one would ever imagine that the light of our lives would not make it. It's just surreal. Complete and utter shock."
In a heartbreaking interview with the Northern Beaches Review in 2020, Sagiotis spoke about how the sudden loss of his wife, Renee, had nearly broken him. He recounted the events of that fateful morning when Renee, aged 36, passed away.
"As I ran back into our house, she goes: 'Don't leave, don't leave, I can't breathe.' I knew it was really bad," he had said.
Despite his best efforts to save her, Renee's life could not be spared. Sagiotis closed down his original Salty Rooster store in Narrabeen as he struggled to cope with grief.
However, a transformative family trip to Miami renewed his enthusiasm for life and work. He relaunched Salty Rooster in Queenscliff, moved to Manly with his two children, started a charity to support grieving children, and found love with Claudine, whom he described as his "soulmate."
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral expenses and support the couple's four children. The statement on the page reads, "Jimmy was a larger-than-life man, whose unstoppable work ethic, impressive charitable support to our community, and deep love for his family and friends can never be replaced."
The page expresses the family's gratitude for the outpouring of support during this unimaginably difficult time. It describes how Jimmy was devoted to his two sons, emphasizing that "family was number one to Jimmy" and highlighting his dedication to creating a fulfilling life for them.
Claudine, his partner, and her children have also been deeply affected by the loss. The page concludes by thanking everyone for their assistance and support during this challenging period.
