Edward J. Negri, 91, of Ellijay, GA formerly of Sandy Springs, died Sunday, April 28, 2013. Ed was probably best known as the friendly and hospitable owner of the very popular Herren’s Restaurant in Atlanta until it closed in 1987. Herren’s is noted for being downtown Atlanta’s first restaurant to voluntarily desegregate, which they did in 1962. In the 1960s, Mr. Negri was Chairman for 5 years of the ‘Camp Fire Girls’ Resident Committee. He also served as Vice Pres. of Atlanta Area Council Board of Directors; Vice Chairman of the Region III Board. For his work with said organization, he was a recipient of the Luther Hasley Gulick Award in 1968. Mr. Negri served on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Convention Bureau and the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Atlanta Traffic & Safety Council. Ed was the Founder and President of the Boys High Alumni Association. He was a member of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association and graduated from the university with the Class of 1947 and earned an ME Degree. He was Chairman of the Food Service Advisory Committee for the Atlanta Vocational—Technical School and Chairman of the Atlanta Regional Food Committee for Disaster Preparedness and Relief. Ed’s success with Herren’s Restaurant and enthusiasm for the restaurant business led him to serve as the Atlanta Restaurant Assn. President from 1958-59; Georgia Restaurant Assn. President from 1965-66; and National Restaurant Assn. Director from 1968-74. He received the Restaurateur of the Year Award from Florida State University. He instigated the “Save the Fox” movement which culminated in the formation of Atlanta Landmarks, Inc. for which he served on the Board of Trustees. He was instrumental in saving and restoring the Wren’s Nest and served on the Board of Directors. As a member of the Peachtree Kiwanis Club he received the Man of the Year Award in 1993. He authored Herren’s—An Atlanta Landmark—past, present, future. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Ellijay Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Negri was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Fuller Negri. He is survived by his daughter, Ellen Luse of Ellijay, GA; sons, Steve Negri and his wife Vee of Summerville, SC, and Paul Negri and his wife Lyn of Summerville, SC; grandchildren, Lynn Roldan, Christy Hincher, Timothy Casey, Kimberly Casey, and Marlena Compton; and 4 great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Sandy Springs Chapel. Entombment will follow in Arlington Memorial Park. . Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society. The family will receive friends Friday, May 3, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mt. Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
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