I was stunned to read today about Josh's death yesterday in Chicago; he was in town for the Beard awards. Only 47, founding editor of Grub Street, columnist for TIME and Esquire, he was one of my favorite writers in the business--I never passed up his byline. Nobody seems sure yet of cause of death, but he was "last seen in a karaoke bar about 4 a.m." and his close friend Andrew Zimmern, writing for Eater.com, refers to "mental health" issues. Several other people in the biz weighed in nicely there, like Anthony Bourdain, but it was Zimmern's comments that struck me the most so I'll include that below.
"Josh was my friend. We talked and saw each other as often as possible. He was a larger than life personality. Brilliant thinker, superb writer, insightful and curious. I was jealous of him. Everything he tried he was staggeringly good at. He even turned out to be an accomplished events producer!
Mostly he was a great friend: Never forgetting my kids special milestones or making my wife laugh for an hour in the corner of a room at a party. I loved his mind. There were very few ideas or opinions I didn't run by Josh for his two cent contribution that ended up being priceless. He was great to people watch with, a loyal guy and I will miss him very very much.
I just spoke to him Saturday because he was in Minneapolis and I wanted to see if he was up for breakfast or something before coming down to Chicago. He loved his family and extended family and he loved the food community more than anything...
There is one bittersweet element to all this, as someone who suffered from a slew of issues myself revolving around mental health and a few physical maladies. Josh's passing and Homaro [Cantu]'s death a few weeks ago is a great reminder that going for it all, living 25/8/366 while keeping everything we think and feel close to the vest is not in our best interest as human beings... I will be in love with Josh forever and miss him already. The world was a better place with him in it."