Las Vegas, NV – Garrett Kendall McKeeman , 64, Exectuive Chef, passed on September 3, 2021 with his wife Debbie and sister Kerren at his side.
Born in Palo Alto, CA on 7 January, 1957, Garrett grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. He was active in sports, lettering in football, wrestling, golf, shot put, and discus at Santa Cruz High School. He loved playing golf often in the company of his two brothers. He was a dedicated fan of the Stanford Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers and Giants.
He took college course in culinary arts while in high school and graduated from the Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, NY in 1978, serving his parents at the traditional graduation dinner celebration. His first hotel was Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, as Executive Sous Chef and he was the opening executive chef for the Rio Hotel and Casino. He eventually specialized in directing food services for Casinos on Native American lands from New York to California, and points in between. He appeared on local television, demonstrating for the public the skills that won him awards in his profession. Along the way he served meals to three presidents, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan.
Garrett was predeceased by his father William Rule Strachan and his mother Elizabeth (Merriam) Atherton. He is survived by his wife Deborah (Robinson) McKeeman, his daughter Carly Elizabeth (McKeeman) Doshi Esq., (Aakash) and grandson, Jackson Gray of New York City; his brothers Richard Chadbourne McKeeman (Joan) of Greer, SC and Taylor Rule McKeeman (Crystal) of Hampstead, NC; and his stepfather Dr. William Marshall McKeeman (Dorie-Ann) of Hollis, NH.
Special Thanks to his sister Kerren McKeeman for her loving support.
Private Services will be in Santa Cruz, CA at a later date.
3 Responses
I want to send my deepest condolences to the Family. Chef was a great man and will missed terribly. I am who I am today because of his mentoring. Our industry lost a great man
The entire Santa Cruz High class of 1975 will miss Garrett. He was always a very nice person. My sincerest condolences to his family.
My condolences to Chef Garrets family. I had the pleasure to work for him in Southern California. He was a great boss and a good friend. We shared a lot of good times together I will always remember him. Again my deepest sympathies to all of his loved ones.