Doug Blackburn

Democrat correspondent

Donny Dye followed his older brother into the family's law firm, but the Tallahassee native really found his niche 14 years ago when he acquired the recently opened Momo's pizzeria on West Tennessee Street.

With the slogan "Slice as big as your head," Dye opened a wildly popular second Momo's at Market Square 10 years ago. Three years ago the craft beer enthusiast added a brewing operation at the Market Square location, giving Tallahassee its first brewpub in more than a decade.

Dye, born with a defective heart, died Sunday evening at the Kirklin Institute at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He was 56.

Related story: Mark Hinson remembers a visit with Momo's founder Donny Dye

Dye had the first of four heart valve replacement procedures 24 years ago, at age 32.

Dye had been struggling some this summer. He was operated on a week ago Monday at the highly regarded Kirklin Institute, and had been in the intensive care unit until his death.

"We have gone through a bunch of medical history with him that had all turned out good," said Jimmy Dye, Donny's elder by two years. "It wasn't easy, but we thought this could be fixed too."

A Leon High School graduate, Dye earned his bachelor's degree at Auburn, where his son Dustin is a senior. Dye began law school at University of Florida, where his daughter Delaney is on the diving team, before finishing law school at Florida State.

"He was my best friend," Jimmy Dye said. "We grew up in the same room, we shared the same bedroom."

Dye had made plans for the two Momo's restaurants to continue should anything happen to him, Jimmy Dye said. Jimmy's son-in-law, Mark Welch, has been managing both eateries since spring. Dye's wife, Marybeth, has been heavily involved in both operations, handling much of the paperwork.

Dye could be very hands-on with Momo's. He preferred smoked chicken wings to the many variations of deep-fried and baked wings at different restaurants, so he smoked them at his home in north Tallahassee and delivered them to Momo's.

His affection for craft beer led Dye to continue to add tap handles at his restaurants, but that wasn't enough for him. He expanded the space at the Market Square restaurant and built a brewing system that is run by John Larsen, a co-owner of the Home Brew Den a few doors down from Momo's.

"(My wife) Sarah and I are deeply saddened by Donny's passing. He was a good friend and a good man," Larsen said in a statement. "He enriched the lives of many people in this community for many years."

Sam Childers, one of Donny Dye's closest friends, marveled at Dye's strength to face his health challenges without complaint. The pair attended The Masters last spring.

"He was a lot of people's best friend," Childers said.

"Donny had the best attitude, and he fought through the issues he faced. He was always happy. I don't think I saw him shed a tear during all his surgeries. He just dealt with them. He had grit."

NAITalcor President Ed Murray was among the friends who journeyed with Dye on his annual golf trips, some as far away as Scotland.

"He never met a stranger and was friends with everybody," Murray said.

"One of the nicest guys I have ever met. He had a lot of different interests. He loved life."

Sports editor Jim Henry contributed to this story.