Iron Chef Star Kerry Simon Dies at Age 60 After MSA Battle
He passed away on Sept. 11 after a two-year battle with the brain disease Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Prior to his death, he was confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak as a result of his illness, which is incurable. His friend, reporter and former Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host Robin Leach, wrote in The Las Vegas Sun that Simon's business partner and two Tibetan monks visited him at the hospice where he had been staying to say bedside prayers as he passed.
"Our thoughts & prayers are with his family, partners and closest friends as they seek strength from his amazing courage in brutal2 yr fight," Leach tweeted.
He later thanked fans for their condolence messages, saying, "Yes he will be missed greatly but he's got more customers than ever to now feed in heaven."
Kerry appeared on season two of the Food Network show Iron Chef America in 2005, where he faced off against Iron Chef Cat Cora in a modern American cuisine-themed challenge and won. He also appeared on episodes of Hell's Kitchen in 2010.
Simon rose to fame when Donald Trump's then-wife Ivana Trump appointed him the executive chef of the Plaza Hotel's Edwardian Room. He went on to open his own restaurants.
In Las Vegas, Simon had eateries at the Palms Place Boutique Hotel & Spa, where he had celebrated his 60th birthday this past March and which closed two months later; the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Harrah's.
He owned Carson Kitchen, a Las Vegas American gastro lounge, which serves specialties such as gyro tacos, veal meatballs, cocoa-espresso NY strip steak, Secret Sunday chicken, Wild Boar Sloppy Joes and Alligator Gumbo.
(MSN)
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