Deidre M. Pierce, June 19, 2009, One Of Washingtonian Magazine "77 People to Watch in 1977"

Deirdre M. Pierce of Key West, Washington, D.C. and Normandy, France died of cardiac arrest June 19, 2009 at Lower Keys Medical Center. She was stricken suddenly at her residence, surrounded by her favorite books and tchotchkes and talking to a lifelong friend. She was 63.

For 21 years (1976-1997) she was restaurant reviewer and food columnist for major Washington, D.C. publications, including the Washington Star, Washington Museum & Arts and Washington Woman. Iron-Chef winner Roberto Donna named her editor of "Il Cuoco," house organ for his nationally known hot spot, Galileo Restaurant.

As creative consultant to upscale D.C. Chanterelle Caterers, she was both hands-on chef and menu designer. A charter member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, Pierce was rather proud of two accomplishments: Picking up Julia Child in a bar in Mougins, France, and a weekend stint as guest chef at Michelin-named Priory Country House Hotel, East Sussex, England.

Accolades include: Washingtonian Magazine "77 People to Watch in 1977," the same year as her great friend Jean Carper, now of K.W.; Panorama TV's Five Most Eligible Bachelorettes (so very 1972) with interviewer Maury Povich; Baltimore's TV News at Noon for a 1979 author's tour with interviewer Oprah Winfrey.

Known in Key West for her popular weekly column, "The Night Stuff," in CELEBRATE! Newspaper (circa 1996), Pierce is also co-author of "The Food Lover's Book of Lists or the List Lover's Book of Foods" and "Literary Sands of Key West," a traveler's guide.

Two completed novels, "Dead Like a Phoenix," set in England, and "Kind of a Drag" about Key West await publication.

The 1968 graduate of Connecticut College for Women (New London, Ct) was married to Aaron Woloshin for 32 years until his death in 2005. Aaron, partner in an international environmental consulting firm, was known in Key West in his own right as a Eurocentric Bronx boy with sartorial flair.

Sometimes accused of having a showgirl complex, Woloshin was the rare man so comfortable in his own skin that he simply kvelled over his leggy wife who had a killer smile and a king-size passion for making all the world in love with night. He was her "true north;" she was his rock & roll.

Full Obit: http://keysnews.com/node/14908

Attribution: keysnews.com

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