Jess Gambaro, beloved member of restaurateur family, dies after brave cancer battle

A famous Brisbane family has been left shattered days before Christmas after the death of a beloved wife and mother following a long battle with cancer.

Jess Gambaro with children Zara, Nico, Massimo and Don in May 2023. Photo: Supplied.

A beloved member of the Gambaro restaurateur family has died after a brave battle with cancer.

Jess Gambaro, adored wife of Donny, passed away on Monday night, December 23. She was 46.

Doting mother of four children – Don, 16, Zara, 12, Massimo, 9, and Nico, 7 – Mrs Gambaro was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer in August last year.

She had no symptoms and went to hospital thinking she had pneumonia.

“I have lost the love of my life and my best friend,” a heartbroken Mr Gambaro told The Courier-Mail.

Jess Gambaro with children Nico, Don, Massimo and Zara in May 2022. Photo: Supplied.

“It is still a mystery how she got this ridiculous cancer, being a non-smoker and non-drinker.

“We got a glimmer of hope we were going to beat it last Christmas, but it was all the subsidiary cancers that took my darling.”

Oesophageal cancer is uncommon, with around 1700 Australians – mostly men over age 70 – diagnosed with it in 2023. Its main causes are tobacco smoking and high alcohol consumption.

“Jess radiated a room with her wonderful smile, she was a calming presence to anyone who met her,” Mr Gambaro said.

“She was not an outspoken lady, she had a great sense of humour without being outrageous or over the top.”

Donny and Jess Gambaro on their wedding day.

The couple began dating when they were 21.

The couple began dating as 21-year-old students at QUT and married in 2007.

Mr Gambaro, of Paddington, said his wife had an enormous pain threshold and was determined to stay alive for her family, undergoing extensive radiation, three different types of chemotherapy and taking a trial drug.

“Jess was the gymnastics captain at Brisbane Girls Grammar, and she would say the pain she was put through as a gymnast back then enabled her to do extraordinary things as an adult.

“She really believed she would beat this – this time last year she was body surfing at Coolangatta.

“I don’t know how we are going to adjust without her.”

Donny Gambaro, Jessica Gambaro, Kristina Gambaro and John Gambaro.

Donny and Jess Gambaro with children Massimo, Zara, Don and Nico at the Gold Coast, April 2023. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Gambaro said right up until the last few months of her life, his wife, who had degrees in marketing and IT, was building websites for the family company.

The Gambaro Group – whose restaurant empire began with a humble fish and chip shop on Caxton Street, Petrie Terrace, in 1953 – is run by John, Frank and Donny, sons of the late Michael Gambaro.

It owns a string popular venues, including Black Hide Steak & Seafood (at The Star and on Caxton Street), Persone Italian in Brisbane city and Pipi’s Restaurant and Awaken café at Coolangatta.

Jess Gambaro is also survived by her parents Lloyd and Joan Bennett and siblings Zoe, Rhys and Philippa.

A funeral will be held on January 3 at St Brigid’s Church in Red Hill, where Jess and Donny were married 17 years ago.