A young, accomplished New York-born chef was found unresponsive in a park during a fundraiser for St. Jude in Nashville and died four hours after the start of the marathon, according to his grieving family.
Joey Fetch, 26, from New York, was participating in Saturday’s charity St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Run and went to Shelby Park to provide CPR and emergency medical aid to a collapsed runner. Paramedics were called and the runner was taken to hospital. He died at a nearby hospital. The Tennessean reported.
“It is with unbearable sadness and immeasurable sadness that we share that our beloved Joey passed away on Saturday, April 27th, to the other side,” the family said in a statement. “He was a bright light of inspiration and positivity to everyone who was lucky enough to meet him.
“He was a cherished son, brother, boyfriend and friend to many,” the family added. “He leaves behind a broken family that loved him very much.”
Fetch’s cause of death remains unclear, but his family has promised to release a more detailed statement in the future.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, which runs the marathon, said medical staff tried their best to help Fetch when he was found unresponsive, but it was too late.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the race participants and will continue to offer support to them as they navigate this extremely difficult time,” the organization said in a statement.
Fetch, a native of Somers, N.Y., began his restaurant career as a 15-year-old busboy at Lucia Restaurant in his hometown, according to his most recent employer, Yoran Italian restaurant in Nashville. .
Fetch became a pizza chef and then a manager at Lucia before enrolling at the Culinary Institute of America on Long Island and interning at Charlie Palmer’s Michelin-starred restaurant Aureole in Manhattan. did.
The talented chef was hired at Per Se restaurant on Columbus Avenue before flying to Chicago to work at the famous Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Spiaggia, which subsequently closed in 2021.
Top Chef star Joe Frum, who worked at Spiaggia, said he was thrilled to hire the then-19-year-old Fetch, recognizing his talent and passion for cooking.
“I’m grateful that he shared the kitchen with me for two years.” Frum posted a passionate post on Instagram..
“I keep telling myself to stop asking why, but it’s hard because I’m so angry and my heart is broken,” Frum said. Just two weeks before her death, she and Fetch met. He added that he had spoken.
“Joey Fetch, you will be forever missed.”
While at Spiaggia, Fetch also met his future culinary partner, Tony Mantuano. She met him again in Nashville as she walked past the Joseph Hotel, where the fledgling Yolan Restaurant was opening.
Mantuano touted his culinary partner for the 2022 promotion as a skilled and dedicated chef.
“Joey is a storyteller in the kitchen,” Mantuano said in a statement. “This promotion is a testament to Joey’s talent and dedication, and we know he will continue to raise the bar to provide a dining experience that combines great food with exceptional service and hospitality. Masu.”
Fetch was with the company for three and a half years before announcing his resignation in February, Yoran said.
“I learned a lot during my time here, not only as a chef, but as a person,” Fetch wrote on Instagram about his departure. “But what I learned most is that it’s not the food or the service that makes a restaurant special.
“It’s the people who are dedicated to the art of hospitality and cooking, and the guests who come to support those dedicated people,” he added. “Restaurants are just a byproduct of passion and culture.”
Loved ones have created a GoFundMe page raising $25,000 to establish the Chef Joey Fetch Culinary Scholarship Memorial Fund “to support aspiring chefs who wish to follow in Joey’s footsteps and continue the tradition of culinary excellence.” are collecting.
