Dallai, Anna Maria (Torlai), Riccardi boutique cofounder has died after a courageous battle with cancer, July 16th. The Newbury Street fashion pioneer was 61. With her husband of 36 years, Riccardo Dallai, Anna helped shape Boston taste trends for over 35 years.

Born in Somerville to Italian immigrants, the late Leone and Liberata (Bonugli) Torlai, and a graduate of St. Clement High School in Medford, Anna Torlai met her future husband in Florence, Italy in 1973, where she was studying languages and he was trying to break into the clothing industry. They used to see each other every morning on the famed Ponte Vecchio Bridge over the Arno River. He asked her out multiple times until she finally agreed. The couple spent hours planning a life together. Their shared dream was to open a clothing store in Boston that would bring European fashion sensibilities to New England. That store--Riccardi boutique--opened its doors on Newbury Street in 1977, the same year the two were married. Riccardi was one of only a handful of local stores that dared to branch out from the classic preppy clothing that defined Boston fashion styles of the era. It specialized in young, emerging designers, many of whom would later become well known.

Anna Dallai had a sophisticated sense of fashion and an intuitive feeling for talent and cultural trends that informed all aspects of Riccardi boutique. She was involved in every part of the business--from buying and selling to display. Even when Multiple Sclerosis forced her to curtail her working hours in 1981, she remained fully engaged with the store and its growing success. A devoted wife and loving mother, she spent her final days preparing for the June 8th wedding of her son Riccardo Dallai Jr. to Sager Kopchak. She accompanied her husband and son down the aisle and danced with the new groom to Wind Beneath My Wings.

In addition to her beloved husband, son and daughter-in-law, Anna is survived by many loving cousins, extended family members and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., MEDFORD, Monday, July 21st, at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Clement Church, 71 Warner St., Medford, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Dello Russo Funeral Home will be held on Sunday from 4 thru 8 p.m. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Anna’s memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Division of Development, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.