Delaware chef Matt Haley, owner of eight restaurants and the founder of the Global Delaware Fund, has passed away from injuries suffered during a motorcycle accident earlier this week. He was 53 years old. The chef — who was the 2014 recipient of the James Beard Foundation's Humanitarian of the Year Award — was on a humanitarian trip in India at the time of the accident. According to a statement issued by Highwater Management, Haley was traveling with filmmaker Guarav Jani at the time.
In a tribute posted today, the Beard Foundation president Susan Ungaro wrote: "Our Foundation honored Matt this year not only for his compassion and commitment to helping disadvantaged children and families locally in Delaware, but also for dedicating his time and resources to help people around the world. We are shocked and saddened by the news of his death." In the Foundation's induction video that ran during the 2014 James Beard Awards, Haley said that "I believe the greatest gift you can give another human being is the gift of example." Go, watch:
Video: Matt Haley, Humanitarian of the Year
· Restaurateur Matt Haley Dies Following Motorcycle Crash [WBOC]
· Matt Haley, Humanitarian of the Year [YouTube]
· All Matt Haley Coverage on Eater [-E-]