Leon R. West

Leon Richard West "Chef" suddenly passed away on Friday, August 21, 2020. He was born in Cambridge Massachusetts to the late Harold West and Dorothy Rose. Chef West was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Joyce Ann Newson West. Beloved father of Linda Perreira, Jessie Perreira, Sabrina Newson King, (Craig L. King), Robert L. DeRosa, (Joyce DeRosa), Sherry L. West, Louise B. West, Leona R. West Garner, (Dorian Garner) and the late Sonya Marie West. Beloved brother of William West (Christine), Jerome West (Yvonne), Carolyn Pinckney (Robert), Charles West, the late Constance Smith (Joseph), Patricia Merritt (Willoiam) and Harold West, Jr. (Judith). Leon studied culinary arts at Massachusetts Vocational and Technical Programs where he obtained his culinary arts degree in 1978 and started his career working for the Sheraton Hotel and Head Start food service programs in Cambridge, Mass. Shortly after, he became a chef for the Aramark Corporation where he worked in Boston, Massachusetts and Atlantic City, New Jersey. In a short five years, the company offered Mr. West the position to work in New Orleans during the Worlds Fair, thus making him the first executive chef of the New Orleans Convention Center. Chef Leon held that position for twenty-five years. As Chef Leon reinvented his career, he created a line of seasoning named Chef Leon West Spices with Chef Leon West. He later became a consultant and the Executive Chef for Messina's on the Lakefront.

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