Goodbye, Chef.
James Kent — father, husband, chef, and runner — died suddenly over the weekend.
I still feel like if I refuse to believe it, he won’t be gone. As you probably have heard by now, Jamal James Kent— the chef and restaurateur behind Saga, Overstory, Crown Shy, and several forthcoming blockbuster projects, father and husband, huge proponent of mental health and running to battle stress—died suddenly on Saturday of a heart attack. He was 45, and it was the day before Father’s Day. What a huge loss; just crushing for those kids and his wife, and to our community of restaurants and chefs.
I got to know James when I became executive director of ROAR in 2021 and we ran the NYC Marathon together (well not together; he was much faster than me), to raise money for ROAR and our mental health programs for restaurant teams.
(Here is a cool video of us on ABC News where he shares his own story of how he came to running and his own struggled with stress.)
James had suffered from serious panic attacks and had become a champion for using running as a way to deal with life’s stresses. He and his wife Kelly ran together, and they started a running club for his entire staff. Then they decided diners might want to run with them too. Recently they launched the Crown Shy Run Club, a program where diners who went to dinner at Crown Shy on Sunday nights were invited to run with them the next morning.
I can’t imagine what Kelly is going through right now, to lose a husband, a partner in life and on the pavement over miles and miles. Those two kids, to wake up without a father at 13 and 15. The agony of that kind of loss? It’s bottomless.
I don’t have the words, or the explanation, or anything to offer here other than the fact that there is less in the world because he is gone. Less joy, less kindness, less love, less leadership, less inspiration, just a lot less.
I’ll be thinking about you today James when I do my run. Rest easy my friend.
The Strong Buzz will be on hiatus for a bit longer as I continue to support my mom who is recovering from a scary illness. More soon as I am able — but the brain is not firing like it used to right now. Too many threads in the head. In the meantime, sending lots of love to you and yours.
Andrea
So sad. Hang in there.
I didn't know him but he was clearly well loved by all who did. Very sad for his family and friends.