Marcel Desaulniers, renowned chef, restaurateur and cookbook author, died on May 28, 2024, at the age of 78.
Born in 1945 in Woonsocket, RI to parents of French-Canadian heritage, Marcel worked in restaurants starting at the age of 15. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1965, and then cooked in fine dining restaurants in New York City.
When Marcel was drafted in 1966, he opted to join the Marine Corps. He served in combat in Vietnam from September1966 to October 1967, proudly achieving the rank of Sergeant E-5 and the moniker “Sgt. Frenchy”. Marcel considered the Marine Corps a seminal period in his life, where he learned the leadership and survival skills needed for his future success in the restaurant business.
Marcel and his young family moved to Williamsburg, VA in 1970, where he worked for Colonial Williamsburg, ultimately as manager of Quality Control and Food Production, overseeing special parties hosted by then President Carl Humelsine for heads of state and other luminaries.
In 1980, Marcel and business partners John Curtis and Tom Power opened the Trellis Restaurant on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. The restaurant became a national landmark for its innovative American cuisine, wine list and service. Marcel won many awards and accolades, including 5 James Beard Awards and two Julia Child Cookbook Awards. He penned 10 cookbooks, including the wildly popular Death by Chocolate (one of eight cookbooks about chocolate), earning a new sobriquet: Guru of Ganache. Marcel starred in two cooking series, Death by Chocolate and The Burgermeisters, and appeared in numerous other cooking shows on PBS, The Learning Channel, as well as “Baking with Julia” hosted by Julia Child.
In 2009, Marcel and his business partner John Curtis sold The Trellis to restaurateur/chef David Everett. Not satisfied with retirement, in 2012 Marcel and his wife, Connie, opened MAD about Chocolate, a café and art gallery in Williamsburg. They sold it in March 2016.
Marcel is survived by Connie, his wife of 47 years, daughter Danielle Desaulniers, grandsons Abraham and William Kist, and sisters Jeannine Finn, Suzie Stiltner, Denise Yocum, Paulette Cieslak and GiGi Desaulniers. He was predeceased by his son Marc Andre Desaulniers, his father Eugene Desaulniers, and his mother Victoire Vermette Desaulniers.
Marcel, who was an Honorary Alumnus of the College of William and Mary, loved Tribe football. For those who would like to honor his memory, the family suggests a contribution to the “Football Excellence Fund” at William & Mary. Please make checks to the Athletic Educational Foundation and mail to the Office of University Advancement Gift Administration, P.O. Box 1693 Harlan, Iowa 51593-1993. Be sure to include “(4859) In Memory of Marcel Desaulniers” in the memo section. Credit card payments can be accepted here.
