From Star Tribune – July 9, 2024
With profound sadness, the family of Jeremy Lee Hines Pettus (“Remy”) has shared that he passed away July 2, 2024. Remy was a visionary, a loving son, an inspirational chef and mentor, and a ray of light for so many people. Born October 1, 1982 in Minneapolis to Cecily Hines and Tom Pettus, Remy was a talented young man, who went on to become one of the preeminent chefs in Minnesota. He graduated from the International Baccalaureate Program at Southwest H.S., then completed three years at Wisconsin-Madison, before enrolling in and graduating from the Culinary Institute of America’s flagship program in Hyde Park, New York.
Remy spent his early career at Homaru Cantu’s Moto in Chicago and Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in California. When he returned to Minneapolis, the city that held his heart, he worked at several high-end restaurants before opening his own beloved Bardo, which became one of the Midwest’s best restaurants. After Bardo had to close during the Pandemic, he was recruited to be the Executive Chef at The Dakota where he thrived under the solid and supportive owner-management team there.
Remy was a true renaissance man, a big thinker unconstrained by convention. Besides being an amazing chef and wine expert he was a talented painter, music aficionado, teacher, poet, and downhill skier (which he especially loved doing with his brother Zach), … and his curiosity led to knowledge on a vast range of topics that always amazed and inspired his family and friends. Most of all he was a kind and generous soul, committed to social justice and democracy. His decision last year to make a career change into video game software design & development had opened up new friendships, energized him with new opportunities, strengthened family connections, and brought renewed joy to his life.
Remy is survived by his parents, Lenora Cecily Hines and Thomas Keller Pettus, his brother Zachary Keller Hines Pettus (Jean Nitchals), his uncle Robert Lee Hines, his aunts Patricia Hines Phoenix (Stuart Phoenix) and Jane Pettus Hughes (Ben Hughes), his cousins Samuel Hines, Elisha Phoenix, Robert Phoenix (Kelly Leonhardt), John Phoenix (Morgan Phoenix), John Hughes, Joseph Hughes, and William Pettus.
A memorial service will be held at The Dakota on Monday, August 26 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in honor of Remy to any of the following: Juxtaposition Arts in NE Minneapolis; Urban Roots in St. Paul; or Black Men Teach of Minnesota. The family welcomes any memories, stories, experiences that friends and/or coworkers would like to share with them. Condolences: dignitymemorial.com