John Harold Kacala

John Harold Kacala, CEC, AAC., 62, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Linda Brown Kacala entered into eternal rest Friday, April 8, 2016. His funeral service will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 in J. HENRY STUHR INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends Friday April 15, 2016 in Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Chef Kacala was born May 6, 1953 in Buffalo, NY, son of the late Harry and Marie Pellegrino Kacala. He was a graduate of Emerson Vocational High School and Johnson & Wales University. His career in the culinary industry spanned more than 46 years beginning as a dish washer, working his way up to Certified Executive Chef. In addition to working in the industry, he was an educator, Chef Instructor, with Johnson & Wales University for twelve years. During his many years in the culinary industry John forged lifelong relationships with not only his peers, but also his countless students, many of whom considered him a friend, a mentor and often a father figure. Most recently John retired from Sysco Food Services of Columbia as Senior Executive Chef/Culinary Consultant. He was a proud member of the American Academy of Chefs, serving as Southeastern Regional Director, the American Culinary Federation and most recently Les Amis d'Escoffier Society of Chicago. He was the recipient of numerous achievements and awards throughout his career. John was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle.

He is survived by his wife Linda Brown Kacala, daughter Melissa Kacala Diamond of Charleston, SC; son Jonathan (fiancé Sara Onufer) Kacala of Charlotte, NC; granddaughter, Avea Marie Diamond of Charleston, SC; sister Lynn Ahmad (Naiem) of Reston, VA; sisters-in-law, Karin Shaffer (W. Lang III) of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Rosemary Harker (Chris) of Virginia Beach, VA, and Gretchen Aurin (Dirk) of the S/V Peregrine; brothers-in-law Angus Brown, and Taylor Brown both of Charleston, SC; father-in-law F.M. "Mickey" Brown of Charleston, SC. He is also survived by his former wife Joanne Fronabarger (A. Kem) and her siblings Mary Pachla (Michael), Hope Liddle (Rob), Michael Paolini (Michelle), Francine Paolini (Martin Zyla), and Peter Paolini all of whom he considered his own sisters and brothers; nieces and nephews, Sumra Ahmad, Aamna Ahmad, Cassidy Shaffer, Walter Shaffer IV, McGuire Shaffer, Frank Harker, Patrick Harker, Jaxson Brown, Marleah Liddle, Alex Liddle, Jenna Liddle, Zachary Paolini, and Olivia Paolini.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in John's name may be made to the American Academy of Chefs, 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095 where a scholarship has been set up in his name.