Aaron Leonard McCloud

Chef Aaron Leonard McCloud passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, Sunday evening, March 5th in Fairfax County, Virginia after a yearlong courageous battle with cancer. Aaron was born on July 17, 1978 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

As a young boy, Aaron showed a great affinity for music beginning violin instruction at the Suzuki Institute of Michigan at age three and during his adolescence, performed with the Livonia Youth Symphony and the Michigan Youth Symphony. Aaron’s musical talents also included vocal and acting performances, as well as a passion for the harmonica.

Aaron’s culinary journey began at the Gandy Dancer in Ann Arbor, Michigan as he began playing violin tableside. Realizing he preferred the kitchen, he began as Gandy’s dish washer at age sixteen and quickly moved to cooking on the line where he had found his true calling. As an avid athlete in his teenage years, Aaron was a devoted Michigan University football fan, and he proudly wore his block M hat in many of his kitchens.

Aaron was awarded the prestigious Stephen E. Elmont Scholarship from the University of Massachusetts where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality. Aaron went on to cooking at establishments such as The Movable Feast in Ann Arbor, Michigan, The Plaza Resort and Spa in Daytona, Florida, and Victoria and Albert's at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He later relocated to the Washington, DC area to open Aster as Chef de Cuisine then the Vintage Restaurant Group. After a season as Executive Chef at The Inn at Perry Cabin on Maryland's eastern shore, Aaron returned back to DC to lead the kitchen at Cedar where he met his wife Linda. He was inducted as an honorary member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. And most recently, he was Executive Chef of Willow Creek Farm in Ashburn, Virginia where he was enthusiastic in leading the expansion of their onsite working farm.

He is survived by his loving wife Linda, his mother Patricia, father George and step-mother Maggie, brother Scott and his wife Elaine, sister Brook and her husband Clark, nephew Timothy, nieces Ava and Penelope, many aunts, uncles and cousins, and hundreds of culinary collaborators and fans.

Visitations will be at Muehlig Funeral Chapel located at 403 S. 4th Ave. in Ann Arbor, Michigan Thursday, March 9th from 5-8 pm, Friday, March 10th from 2-8 pm, and Saturday, March 11th from noon until time of service at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Aaron Leonard McCloud Memorial Scholarship C/O Interlochen Center for the Arts, PO Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643.