Kenneth James LiGreci

Professional chef, business owner, family man, lifeline to many It is with profound sadness and heartbreak that we announce the passing of our beloved father, son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, Kenneth James LiGreci. Kenneth J. LiGreci, 62, son of Geraldine and Jack LiGreci, a native Staten Islander, was born in West Brighton, March 25th; then later resided in Randall Manor where he spent his youth in sunlight and mischief. He attended Sacred Heart grade school and Saint Peter's High School. His activities included football, little league baseball, Boy Scouts, racquetball, and a team member of the Staten Island Silver Bullets. Ken followed his dream to be a chef, graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he formed a life-long bond with his friend Mark Spiegel. Ken began his career with an apprenticeship at the famed Broussard's in New Orleans where he often recalled his time there as the most challenging work of his career, with the hardest working chefs in the business and described this experience as where he "grew up". Ken came home to put his new degree to use at the LiGreci's Staaten as well as at Alfredo's restaurant in New Jersey, where he met another life-long friend and Godfather to his son, Alfredo DeBonis. Ken later started his own meatpacking business called K.L. Provisions on Staten Island, NY, and owned nightclubs including Bar Casablanca in Brielle, NJ and Club Drink on Staten Island, NY. Ken moved on to other pursuits including stock options trading on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, he founded the notoriously successful Island Smokes franchise, and in the latter part of his life he began a passion project called Tour Italy, providing small culinary inspired group tours throughout beautiful Sicily. Ken married in 1984, to Teresa Marie Doldo (Watertown, NY) and had three children; Nina Marie, Lauren Michele, and Kenneth "Michael". His family first resided in West Brighton then moved to Spring Lake, NJ. Kenny was an involved father who loved spending time with his family and especially loved educating his children; he even read the dictionary to his children at the dinner table and held a spelling bee while they ate. He delighted in coaching his daughters in softball and on his days off was happy to spend it with his children, often taking them to the Staten Island Zoo, Six Flags, the movies, or to go visit family. Ken and his son also enjoyed their time fishing, crabbing, and going to the arcade. It was in Spring Lake that Ken's spirit of volunteerism took hold, starting as a volunteer firefighter. From there he became an EMT, disaster relief worker for FEMA and OEM serving after Hurricane Katrina, and a chaplain serving over a year on-site at 9/11 and later in life serving as a Chaplain in hospitals on Staten Island. Ken was heavily involved on the Board of Dynamite Youth Services and connected many families with the life-saving services they offered. Ken was a lifeline to many, from his tight-knit family unit to his friends and to the many individuals he met during his service work. His calming demeanor and compulsive positivity made him an asset in this line of work; helping those in need was his true calling in life. Kenny enjoyed life to its fullest! He was very sociable, loved meeting new people and having new experiences, and he truly loved an adventure. His dream was to take his young family on an RV trip and he made it happen! He traveled the world, from Costa Rica to Italy to Asia and everywhere in between. He spent his time stateside boating or taking in the sun in Long Beach Island, NJ and throughout Florida. Kenny is survived by his three children; Nina, Lauren LiGreci Brown and her husband Chris and daughter Natalie, and son Michael, father Jack LiGreci and stepmother Barbara, brother Gary LiGreci and wife Liz, sister Lynne LiGreci Mangini and her husband Douglas and the children of his siblings; Johnny, Denise, Katie, Carly, Rachel, Clark, and Jack and step-siblings Candace Maroney and Darren Garcia, and their daughters Kayla and Isabella. He is also survived by his Aunt Dee Carroll, and many cousins to whom he was very close. He was predeceased by his mother Geraldine Callahan LiGreci and his cousins Tom Carroll and Jimmy LiGreci. Kenneth endured a lifelong struggle with several medical conditions, and we were lucky that he had the strength to stay with us as long as he did. Sadly, his body could not keep up with his brilliant mind and he passed peacefully in his home. Visiting is on Sunday, March 13, from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m., with service thereafter, at Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Ave., Staten Island NY 10301. In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that donations be made to Dynamite Youth Center in Fallsburg, NY in Ken's honor.