Dennis John Crotty of Hendersonville, NC and until recently resident of St. George, Staten Island NY passed away suddenly on June 23rd, 2017 of cardiac arrest. Beloved husband of Carol (Sinnott) who became his bride in 2016 after a seven year late in life romance and newfound love. Dennis is also survived by daughter Nicole Keigley and son in law Chad, and three grandchildren Genevieve, Reese, and George of Oxford, NC; brother, Daniel P. and sister-in-law Pat, and nephews Dan and Brandan Crotty of Boiling Springs PA; brother Peter and sister-in-law, Clara, of Staten Island NY; and former wife Judie (Steadman) Ameth of Oxford, NC. He was predeceased by parents Mary and John of Hudson, Fl, and brother, Timothy. He is also survived by stepchildren; Anthony Schollaert of Mt. Vernon, WA; Louise Schollaert and Travis Blanchard of Seattle, WA; and Joseph Schollaert and Michal Sinnott of LA, CA.

A Staten Island native, Dennis was an artist, professional chef, bon vivant and free spirit who loved life. He was always intrigued by new and different cuisines, and enjoyed trying various styles of cooking for friends, family, and professionally. Learning Italian techniques from a friend’s grandmother, taking classes to learn how to prepare sushi, or Asian dishes and analyzing their tastes to recreate at home. The world was his cookbook. In the 60’s he was very involved in the anti-war movement. Dennis grew up in Bay Terrace, and graduated from Xaverian High School class of 1972 in Brooklyn and attended Pratt Institute in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. After working at freelance art for a number of years, and starting an Advertising Agency on Madison Avenue with a friend, he shifted from visual arts to cuisine. Dennis painted watercolors as well as doing fine line drawings, and had created lithographs in the past. In the last few years he turned his attention to producing artsy greeting cards. Getting his introduction to professional cooking in 1984 with J’s Villa in Great Kills, and continuing with long stints as the chef at Champlin’s Resort on Block Island in the 1990’s, and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Dennis realized his dream of running his own restaurant with St. George Parrish Grill on Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, featuring Cajun, Southern and Low Country style cooking from 2009 through 2010. Dennis enjoyed travel, and was able to visit the far corners of the United States, vacations to Prague in Czech Republic, East Berlin after the fall of the wall, Brussels, Belgium for Carnival, or St. Thomas as a working holiday, were part of his zest for life. Friend to all, and a person who loved all, Dennis will be remembered.

There will be a small service at St. James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville on Monday, July 3rd. There will also be a memorial service and celebration for Dennis in August on Staten Island. Date to be determined. Arrangements entrusted to Asheville Mortuary Services. 

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