Anthony P. "Tony" Tocco, president and CEO of M & L Foods, who was known as "the Codfather," died Tuesday (Nov. 3, 2009) at Missouri Baptist Hospital. He was 57 and lived in Wildwood.

He had battled a rare form of pancreatic cancer, his family said Wednesday.

Mr. Tocco acquired his unusual nickname because of the large amounts of codfish his food distribution company sold to local fish fries, American Legion posts and churches.

"He sold more than anyone," said his wife, Carla Tocco.

Mr. Tocco was a longtime umpire for the Amateur Softball Association of America, and a member of Wildwood's Board of Adjustment. He was a past president of the North Broadway Business Association and a member of the Mississippi River Bridge Committee. He was active in the Catholic Youth Council, where he sometimes performed as a deejay.

He graduated from McCluer High School.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Buchholz Mortuary West, 2211 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, 1765 Charbonier Road, Florissant. Burial will be at Our Lady Cemetery in Lake Saint Louis.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include five daughters, Laura Hall of O'Fallon, Mo., Toni Tocco of Chandler, Ariz., Nicci Fontes of Yuma, Ariz., Tiffany Tocco of Wildwood and Cristina Bergjans of O'Fallon, Mo.; his parents, Peter and Lorraine Tocco of O'Fallon; two sisters, Kristine Graff of Florissant and Connie Woemmel of Defiance, Mo.; two brothers, Frank Tocco of Wildwood and Leonard Tocco of Florissant; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Missouri Baptist Hospital Health Foundation Cancer Center, 3015 North Ballas Road, Town and Country.