CHICAGO — A chef who is said to have honed his skills in Chicago passed away Saturday while participating in a marathon in downtown Nashville.
Joey Fecci, 26, was found unresponsive during the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series marathon. He passed away at a Nashville hospital despite CPR and efforts to save him, race officials said in a statement.
His family released a statement, calling him a “bright light of inspiration and positivity.”
“He was a treasured son, brother, boyfriend, and friend to so many. He leaves behind a broken family that loves him so very much,” the statement said.
Fecci most recently worked at Yolan, a fine Italian restaurant in Nashville, but trained at Chicago’s Spiaggia alongside his mentor Joe Flamm and restaurateurs Cathy and Tony Mantuano, according to a GoFundMe account established to create a memorial scholarship to benefit aspiring chefs.
A statement from Yolan called Fecci an “integral” member of the team.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with his family and friends, and we kindly ask that you respect their privacy and our team’s during this time of grief,” a statement obtained by WKRN said.
Race organizers said more than 23,000 registered participants took a foot tour of Nashville during the marathon, half-marathon, 10K, and 5K races on Saturday, April 27.
