HECTOR,
NEW YORK - July 1, 2011 - Debra
Whiting, Executive Chef &
Co-Owner of Red Newt Cellars
Winery & Bistro, died in a car
accident last night, at the age of
52, while returning home to the
Finger Lakes with her husband
after a visit to friends and
family in Northern Vermont. David
Whiting, husband and winemaker at
Red Newt Cellars, was also injured
in the crash. He is currently
listed in stable condition at
Syracuse Upstate University
Hospital.
Debra
was truly a passionate and
inspirational culinary ambassador
to the Finger Lakes region. As a
member on the executive board of
the Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty,
she took great pride in utilizing
locally sourced ingredients for
her ever-changing menu and
building relationships with the
local farmers and producers of the
region. Unhampered by formal
culinary training, her approach
was to seek an expressive
interpretation to every culinary
challenge. The result was a
culinary palate whose colors
express Debra's devotion to the
bounty and seasons of the Finger
Lakes.
A
native of Georgia, Debra moved to
Connecticut at an early age and
spent many years growing up in
Lake Placid. Debra spent the first
15 years of her professional
career in immunology research,
having earned an M.S. in
Microbiology. She was an avid
runner, competing in two New York
City marathons in 1988 and 1989.
Debra and her husband also took
great pleasure in ballroom
dancing. When the Red Newt first
opened Debra and David Whiting
would instruct ballroom dance
classes to the community. She is
survived by husband David and two
sons Ryan (age 27) and Brenton
(age 16).
The
Winery will remain open today with
the Bistro re-opening tomorrow as
the staff at Red Newt Cellars
awaits the family's wishes.
Services will be scheduled, in the
meantime, the Pastors at Hector
Presbyterian Church have
graciously opened their doors to
family and friends tomorrow from
10:00 a.m.-2:00p.m.
The
Whiting and Red Newt family
extends their deepest gratitude to
those who have offered their
support and condolences during
this tragic time. The tremendous
amount of love and strength goes
beyond words.
Red
Newt Cellars is located on the
east side of Seneca Lake in the
hamlet of Hector in the Finger
Lakes region of New York. In
addition to producing wines from
east Seneca Lake vineyards, Red
Newt Cellars offers innovative
Finger Lakes cuisine in the Bistro
by utilizing locally sourced
ingredients and promoting culinary
relationships between farms and
restaurants. Red Newt Cellars will
remain a representation of the
achievements of David and Debra's
longtime goal to combine their
efforts and expertise in the
exploration of producing, and also
in creating a synergy between,
regional wine and cuisine.
For
more information, contact
regarding bereavement:
Reverends
Nancy & James Yao
Hector
Presbyterian Church
5511
State Route 414
Hector,
NY 14841-096
Phone:
607-546-2134
We
at Red Newt Cellars and Bistro
submit this for immediate release.
Debra Whiting was a Saint.
She was a mother to more than just
her children and a sister to
everyone she met.
She
was one of the warmest and kindest
people to ever come into my life.
I cannot thank her enough for what
she has given me in this too short
of time I've spent with her.
I hope that the local media will
air this story to tell of the
angel who heaven reclaimed.
She will forever be loved and
missed.
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