Eileen Mintz

My friend

Eileen was one of Seattle's long-term culinary public relations professionals. Her first account was somewhat hesitant to take her on due to her lack of experience. She agreed to be paid by the coverage she got for them. Ultimately they had to let her go--she was breaking the bank.

No matter who she worked with (and there have been many), she gave them her all, creating a buzz and following through with great ideas and coverage.

She wrote for the James Beard Foundation and the Mercer Island Reporter. She volunteered for an amazing amount of charitable events, helping organize, bringing chefs in and getting auction items.

Eileen could work a room like no other. At media events, I would feel really good about the number of people I met. Then she'd say "Did you meet this person and that person and this person?" Didn't even know they were there.

Like many, I met Eileen because she was always looking to help someone. She read something I'd written on a website and contacted them to see if she could get in touch with me. She thought I had promise. We met for lunch and by the end of two hours we were fast friends and had created a fundraiser (Cooking with Class--although we didn't come up with the name). Yet another fundraiser for her to take on, but this one was all ours and we even trademarked it together as owners. 2009 will be its eighth year.

Over the years, Eileen has mentored me (along with countless others), improving my game and sharing herself continually. She never believed you should hold close what makes you successful--share it and everyone is better for it. It would be a pretty wonderful world if we were all more like Eileen.

On February 1, 2009, Eileen died after a two-year struggle with cancer. She didn't give up until the very end. She never missed a deadline. She never let people know while she was doing her job that she was in pain. She always had a smile and encouraging word for everyone.

It is true to say that Seattle's culinary world (oh, hell, the whole city itself) has lost a unique voice. But mostly we just lost our friend.

Connie Adams/February 2009