June 19, 2013 (Kearny, NJ) James John Gandolfini, Jr., who played Tony Soprano, in the HBO Mini-Series The Sopranos, died today while in Italy for the Taormina Film Festival. The cause of death has not been determined but it is suspected that he died of a heart attack. Gandolfini was 51 years old.

Gandolfini's connection to Kearny was the Satriale's Pork Store on Kearny Avenue where the Soprano's was filmed. The Satriale's Pork Store was torned down to build condominiums but the economy and lower housing prices caused what once was the Pork Store to be an empty lot. Tour buses still stop at the location but the building is only a memory now. KOTW extends our condolences to the Gandolfini family. Fifty-one is to young but James accomplished a lot in those 51 short years. Click on the Read More link below for additional photographs and a comment from Mayor Alberto Santos on Gandolfini's passing.

James Gandolfini sitting in front of Kearny Pork Store on Kearny Avenue. Both Are Gone Now. Photograph courtesy of Jersey Journal/NJ.com

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James Gandolfini sitting in front of Kearny Pork Store on Kearny Avenue with his crew. Photograph courtesy of Jersey Journal/NJ.com

The Satriale's Pork Store on Kearny Avenue in Kearny NJ. Photograph courtesy of Jersey Journal/NJ.com

The Boss in front of The Satriale's Pork Store on Kearny Avenue in Kearny NJ. Photograph courtesy of Barry Wetcher / AP

Mayor Alberto Santos commented in an article on NJ.com that Gandolfini "His acting skills are tremendous whether on Broadway, TV or in movie theater. When he played a role, he was that person and he did it extremely well." The article discussed the filming of the Sopranos at the Satriale's Pork Store on Kearny Avenue.