The Cheese Industry Mourns the Loss of Margaret Cicogna

From The Gellert Family:

We share sad news: Beloved Atalanta retiree Margaret Cicogna, one of the most impactful individuals in the Italian Specialty Cheese business, passed away on Saturday at age 91. 

Margaret was "Cheese Royalty"—literally.   An Italian Countess who was crucial in developing many of the relationships (if not all) with our Italian Specialty Cheese suppliers and introducing them to many of the high-profile customers we still serve today.   This includes Wegmans, HEB, Bristol Farms, to name a few. 

Margaret never hesitated to do what it took to get cheese to customers.   If this meant going to the airport herself to pick up an air shipment, she did it.   If this meant putting cheese in her car to make a delivery, she did it.   If this meant cleaning wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano in the warehouse - she, did it. 

Passion isn't a strong enough word to describe how she felt about the products. We all learned so much from her; we'll carry it forward.  

Margaret loved cheese, our company, and we loved her.

May she rest in peace.

The Gellert Family. 

From Margaret Bermingham Cicogna Published Obituary:

Margaret Bermingham Cicogna Obituary

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Margaret Bermingham Cicogna, age 91, of Portchester, NY, died peacefully in Greenwich, CT, on September 12, 2026.

 

Margaret was born October 9th, 1934 in New York City to Archibald Bermingham and Matilde Cilento Bermingham. She grew up between NYC and Southport, CT, attending the Convent of the Sacred Heart and later Manhattanville College.

 

She married Gian Carlo Cicogna and lived in France and Switzerland before returning to the U.S. to reside on Pine Island in Rye, NY.

 

Margaret loved to travel and was particularly fond of her mother’s home country, Italy. Known as the “Cheese Lady,” Margaret worked closely with local distributors to market Italian cheese and other Italian products. Her deep love of Italy — its traditions, culture, history and fine food products — guided her throughout her career.

 

Margaret had a deep love of animals and loved her dogs dearly. In addition to her beloved Labradors, she brought rescue dogs into her home.

 

She will be remembered for her kindness, elegance and optimism. Margaret had a natural warmth and a unique ability to put people at ease, connecting effortlessly with everyone she encountered. She will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

 

Margaret is survived by her daughter Cristina, her son Alessandro and her two grandchildren, Natasha and Nicholas. She was preceded in death by her son, Gian Luca, whom she loved dearly.

 

A memorial mass will be held at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 84 Sherwood ave, in Greenwich, Connecticut on Friday, September 25th at 10:30 AM.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in her honor to St. Coletta of Wisconsin, an organization that was a meaningful part of her son Luca’s life for many years.

 

Link to Margaret Cicogna Obituary: https://www.josephtuterafh.com/obituaries/Margaret-Bermingham-Cicogna?obId=49624587