Charles Phan (1962–2025), influential Vietnamese chef 

Charles Phan was a Vietnamese chef whose restaurant, The Slanted Door, and cookbooks helped spark a nationwide appreciation of his country's cuisine.

Donnell Thompson (1958–2024), longtime Colts defensive end 

Donnell Thompson was a longtime defensive end for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, who later became a community-minded business owner.

Walt Ehmer (1966–2024), Waffle House CEO

Walt Ehmer was the CEO of the popular restaurant chain Waffle House from 2012 until his death.

Wally Amos (1936–2024), creator of Famous Amos cookies

Wally Amos was an entrepreneur and television personality who created several well-known cookie brands, including Famous Amos cookies, and hosted the TV show “Learn to Read,” an educational series aimed at adults.

Naomi Pomeroy (1974–2024), Top Chef Masters star

Naomi Pomeroy was a Portland, Oregon chef who founded the restaurant Beast and competed on cooking shows like “Iron Chef” and “Top Chef Masters.” 

Warren Winiarski (1928–2024) Napa Valley wine pioneer 

Warren Winiarski was a winemaker whose Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars helped put California’s Napa Valley on the world stage of winemaking.

Morgan Spurlock (1970–2024), Super Size Me filmmaker

Morgan Spurlock was a documentary filmmaker best known for his 2004 movie “Super Size Me,” for which he ate nothing but McDonald’s items for 30 days.

Bill Post (1927–2024), inventor of Pop-Tarts

Bill Post was the inventor of Pop-Tarts.

David Bouley (1953–2024), top New York City chef 

David Bouley was an influential four-star chef in New York City known for his many TV appearances and the Tribeca restaurant that bore his name.

Bob Moore (1929–2024), Bob’s Red Mill founder

Bob Moore founded the whole-grain food company Bob’s Red Mill alongside his wife, Charlee Moore.0

Lynn Yamada Davis (1956–2024), TikTok chef known as Lynja

Lynn Yamada Davis was known for her viral cooking videos on her TikTok channel, Cooking with Lynja.

George Cohon (1937–2023), founder of McDonald’s Canada

George Cohon was the founder of McDonald’s Canada who later brought the iconic hamburger chain to Russia.

Thierry Rautureau (2023), “The Chef in the Hat” 

Thierry Rautureau was a celebrity chef known for his Seattle restaurants and his appearances on “Top Chef Masters” and other TV shows.

Ryan Smolkin (1973–2023), founder of Smoke's Poutinerie

Ryan Smolkin was a restaurateur, entrepreneur, and social media personality who founded the restaurant chain Smoke's Poutinerie, with over 100 locations in Canada.

M. S. Swaminathan (1925–2023), led India’s “green revolution”

Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan was an agricultural scientist, plant geneticist, and humanitarian whose work and leadership during India’s “green revolution” helped fight famine.

Burkey Belser (1947–2023), FDA Nutrition Facts label designer

Burkey Belser was a graphic designer best known as the creator of the Nutrition Facts label mandated by the FDA, which adorns most food sold in the United States.

Jim Tom Hedrick (1940–2023), star of Moonshiners

Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick was a respected Appalachian distiller and fan favorite on the Discovery Channel’s reality television series, “Moonshiners.” 

Jimmy Buffett (1946–2023), Margaritaville singer

Jimmy Buffett was a singer and songwriter known for such laid-back hits as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Patricia Bragg (1929–2023), Bragg Live Food Products CEO

Patricia Bragg was the longtime CEO of Bragg Live Food Products, known for their apple cider vinegar and other health food staples.

Dorothy Zehnder (1921–2023), matriarch of Michigan’s Bavarian Inn 

Dorothy Zehnder was a legend of the popular Bavarian Inn in the tourist town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, where she worked for more than 80 years.

David Gilmour (1931–2023), founder of Fiji water 

David Gilmour was a serial entrepreneur who started or was involved in a series of business ventures, most notably the Fiji water brand, which for a time was the number one brand of imported water. 

Walter Royal (1957–2023), Iron Chef America winner  

Walter Royal was a North Carolina chef who won “Iron Chef America” in 2006 with his dishes made from ostrich.

Stew Leonard Sr. (1929–2023), grocery store founder 

Stew Leonard Sr. was the founder of the Stew Leonard’s chain of grocery stores. 

Emily Meggett (1932–2023), renowned Gullah Geechee chef 

Emily Meggett was a chef who brought Gullah Geechee cuisine to a wide audience with her cookbook, “Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes from the Matriarch of Edisto Island.” 

Raghavan Iyer (1961–2023), chef who brought Indian cooking to the U.S.

Raghavan Iyer was a chef who helped popularize cooking the cuisines of his native India in the U.S.

Sara Lane (1949–2023), actress in The Virginian

Sara Lane was an actress best known for playing Elizabeth Grainger on “The Virginian.”

Ira “Bob” Born (1924–2023), candymaker who was called the Father of Peeps

Ira “Bob” Born was the former president of the candy company Just Born, where he invented Hot Tamales and created the process to mass-produce Peeps.

James “Buster” Corley (1951–2023), co-founder of Dave & Buster’s 

James “Buster” Corley  was the co-founder of the Dave & Buster’s chain of restaurants with arcades.

John Y. Brown Jr. (1933–2022), former KFC owner and Kentucky governor

John Y. Brown Jr. was a businessman and politician who built KFC into a fast-food empire and went on to be elected governor of Kentucky.

Julie Powell (1973–2022), food writer known for “Julie & Julia”

Julie Powell was a food writer known for her blog the Julie/Julia Project about her attempt to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”   

Sylvia Wu (1915–2022), restaurateur to Hollywood stars

Sylvia Wu was the owner of the legendary restaurant Madame Wu’s Garden in Santa Monica, California, a popular destination for Hollywood stars.

Maurice Kanbar (1929–2022), creator of Skyy Vodka and the sweater defuzzer

Maurice Kanbar was an inventor and entrepreneur whose creations included Skyy Vodka and the D-Fuzz-It device for sweaters.

Fred Franzia (1943–2022), “Two Buck Chuck” winemaker

Fred Franzia was the co-founder of Bronco Wine Company, best known for their affordable “Two Buck Chuck” Charles Shaw brand.

Roland Mesnier (1944–2022), longtime White House pastry chef

Roland Mesnier was the White House pastry chef for 25 years, serving five presidents.

Janice Bluestein Longone (1933–2022), America's foremost cookbook expert

Janice Bluestein Longone was an antiquarian bookseller whose collection of tens of thousands of American cookbooks provided an archive of the nation’s culinary history.

Howie Kleinberg (1975–2022), Miami restaurateur and “Top Chef” contestant

Howie Kleinberg was a Miami restaurateur who owned Bulldog Barbecue and competed on season three of “Top Chef.”

Diana Kennedy (1923–2022), chef who helped popularize Mexican cuisine

Diana Kennedy was an influential chef who was known as the “Julia Child of Mexican Cuisine” for promoting and popularizing its traditional recipes.

Sally Schmitt (1932–2022), chef who co-founded Napa Valley’s French Laundry

Sally Schmitt was a chef who co-founded the Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry and pioneered California cuisine.

Sylvia Weinstock (1930–2021), “Queen of Cakes” baker and decorator

Sylvia Weinstock was a cake baker and decorator known as the “Queen of Cakes.”

Peter Buck (1930–2021), Subway restaurant co-founder

Peter Buck was the co-founder of the Subway chain of sandwich shops.

Yolanda Fernández de Cofiño (1934–2021), creator of the McDonald’s Happy Meal

Yolanda Fernández de Cofiño was a businesswoman who ran the first McDonald’s franchise in Guatemala and invented the Happy Meal.

Mark Peel (1954–2021), Campanile chef who was a judge on “Top Chef”

Mark Peel was a celebrity chef who founded the Los Angeles restaurant Campanile and appeared on TV shows including “Top Chef” and “Hells’ Kitchen.”

Yuan Longping (1930–2021), created hybrid rice to ease famine

Yuan Longping was a Chinese plant scientist who created high-yield hybrid rice that helped alleviate famine in Asia and Africa.

Martha Lou Gadsden (1930–2021), Lowcountry soul food icon

Martha Lou Gadsden was the owner of the iconic Charleston, South Carolina soul food restaurant Martha Lou’s Kitchen.

Greg Steltenpohl (1954–2021), founder of Odwalla and Califia Farms

Greg Steltenpohl was an entrepreneur who founded the beverage companies Odwalla and Califia Farms.

David Mintz (1931–2021), inventor of Tofutti vegan ice cream

David Mintz was the inventor of Tofutti, the first commercially successful vegan ice cream.

S. Prestley Blake (1914–2021), co-founder of Friendly’s restaurant chain

S. Prestley Blake co-founded the Friendly’s chain of restaurants along with his brother, Curtis Blake.

Frank Carney (1938–2020), co-founder of Pizza Hut

Frank Carney was a businessman who co-founded Pizza Hut along with his brother.

Ben Watkins (2020), “MasterChef Junior” star

Ben Watkins was a young chef who starred on “MasterChef Junior” in 2018, when he was 11 years old.