Stephen D. "Deano" Corbett

1962 - 2018

Stephen D. Corbett

Louisville - Stephen D. Corbett (age 56), the acclaimed Golden Toque chef, owner of Corbett's: An American Place, Equus, and Jack's Lounge, and co-owner of Ward 426 restaurants, passed away suddenly of a heart attack Saturday, October 13. Known to his friends as "Deano", Chef Corbett was born in Portland, Oregon. He learned to cook after returning from college when, at the time, his mother Nancy was battling lung cancer. He began cooking to nourish her back to health. Completely self-taught, Chef Corbett began his culinary career in Dallas, Texas at the renowned Chandler's Landing Yacht Club and Ram's Head Restaurant. Arriving in Louisville in 1982, Chef Corbett rose through the ranks at Casa Grisanti and later assumed the sous chef position at Sixth Avenue. With Casa Grisanti, Chef Corbett participated in Taste of America, a celebration of the top 50 restaurants for President Reagan's inauguration in 1984.

Chef Corbett purchased Equus (Latin for horse) in 1985 which grew into a four-star landmark in St. Matthews and was featured in Food Arts, Southern Living and Wine Spectator. In 2000, Chef Corbett opened Jack's Lounge next door to Equus. Named after his late father and former business partner, Jack's was recognized for its award-winning cocktails and received a "Best of Louisville" award three years in a row. Chef Corbett merged Equus and Jack's in 2010 to create one of the city's best upscale bistros.

In 2007, Chef Corbett realized his dream when he opened his namesake restaurant, Corbett's: An American Place, in the former Von Allmen mansion in Brownsboro Crossings in East Louisville. A year later, Corbett's was named "Best New Restaurant" by Esquire Magazine and continued to gain national attention with Chef Corbett's appearances on MSNBC's Today Show and The Cooking Channel's Food(ography). Corbett's was awarded a AAA four-diamond rating in 2009 and held it until the restaurant closed in 2017. For ten years Corbett's was the finest of Louisville's fine dining restaurants. In 2014, Chef Corbett partnered with his longtime friend Chef Shawn Ward to open Ward 426 on Bardstown Road. Chef Corbett recently sold Equus and Jack's as he reduced his workload, but he continued to participate as chef emeritus.

In 2009, Chef Corbett was one of six chefs to be inducted into the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque, the highest honor a chef can receive in the United States and limited to 100 lifetime active members nationwide. He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Kentucky Restaurant Association, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Catholic Education Foundation in 2010, and has cooked at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City four times. His cuisine was also featured at the Bourbon Bicentennial at the renowned Explorer's Club in New York City.

Chef Corbett was deeply committed to the Louisville community. He helped start several food-themed fundraisers, including Bourbon & Bowties which benefits Norton Children's Hospital Foundation. He was often found serving up culinary delights at various charitable events around town. In 2013, he raised $1.6 million for Gilda's Club and $600,000 for children's cancer research. He was involved in countless other benefits supporting the American Heart Association, APRON, Inc., Dare to Care, Norton Children's Hospital, March of Dimes, and charities fighting juvenile diabetes, juvenile autism and multiple sclerosis. He co-hosted his own television show, "Secrets of Louisville Chefs", and was the creator and co-host of the weekly "The ChefBoyArDean Show" on Talk Radio WKJK.

Deano was a pillar in the Louisville culinary community and will be missed by his many friends, longtime customers, and devoted family.

Chef Corbett was preceded in death by his parents, John Stephen ("Jack") Corbett and Nancy Blunt Corbett. He is survived by his two sisters, Cathy Blair and Julie Saurer (Mark), his loving wife of 15 years, Julie Eifler Corbett, three young sons, Jack, Max and Drew, and several nieces and nephews.

Chef Corbett's funeral mass will be Celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday at St. Albert the Great Church, 1395 Girard Avenue, with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Pearson Funeral Home, 149 Breckinridge Lane.

Memorial gifts may be made to Corbett Childrens' Education Fund, c/o Republic Bank, Attn: Greg Bromley, 11330 Main Street, Middletown, KY 40243.