I look back to July 30, 2003 as the day that my life changed, the day that my beloved father Nick Lupoli passed away. Although he’s been gone for decades now, I can still hear his voice vividly, offering me advice on every decision I make in my company that now employs more than 1,000 people in New England.

The idea of one day owning a successful pizza and real estate development business was nurtured by my dad while I was still attending Northeastern University back in the 1980’s. Dad was bedridden at the time, recovering from a second heart attack after operating restaurants in Cambridge and Wellesley. When I told him that I wanted to open a pizza business, he advised me to learn from the best pizza makers in the North End. I attended class each day on Huntington Avenue and then took the T over to Hanover Street for what I called “night school”, being taught to fold and stretch dough from true pizza artisans.

When I finally opened my first Sal’s Pizza location in Salem, New Hampshire in 1990, my dad pulled himself out of bed and helped me oversee the operation in those early days. He also offered me valuable advice.

“You’re gonna make a difference in people’s lives,” he told me. “But ask for nothing in return.”

He wanted me to understand that the opportunity that I had to run my own business would also provide opportunities for my employees, many of whom have now worked for me for decades with the chance to provide for their own families. This ripple effect has enriched the lives of many and I have my dad to thank for that.

And then on July 30th he was gone. But I truly believe my father sent me an angel to fill his shoes because shortly after he passed, another father figure stepped into my life. Why the late Boston Mayor Tom Menino  took such a liking to me, I have no idea. But we shared an Italian heritage and he saw something in me that sometimes I didn’t see in myself. Like my dad, Mayor Menino took me under his wing during countless meetings at his office, where his mentorship would push me to think a little bigger than I thought I could.

When it came time to open my first restaurant in Boston, I couldn’t pay the sky high rents. Mayor Menino quickly picked up the phone and introduced me to the next angel in my life. Joe Fallon was developing the Seaport and Menino convinced him to take a chance on me. After Menino’s passing, Joe Fallon continued to be a mentor to me, and I still call him for advice to this day.

I have been blessed to have three determined and insightful men guide me along my journey and I still feel their strong presence on this and every Father’s Day.