A sad email went out this morning to fans and friends of Chef Rameaux. As has been known, the chef is suffering from terminal cancer. While he has been hopeful that he could return to giving classes, alas he is too sick and will not. The family will be having a moving-out sale on Saturday from 10am to 2pm at the store at 704 N. Person Street.

Attached below is the full text of the letter:

Dear Customers and Friends:

I’m sure that many of you know that Chef Rameaux/Raymond Rodgers has not been doing well for quite some time as he has struggled with a multitude of illnesses over many, many years. But you may not know that he now has terminal cancer. This means that we, his wife and daughter, with great regret, are forced to close down Chef Rameaux’s School of Cooking and Louisiana Market.  Raymond has loved his work over the last ten years. Raymond is a planner and a dreamer.  Over the last several months he has continued to talk about his plans and thoughts for Chef Rameaux’s as if he were going back to work shortly—because that is the way his mind works, first of all, and, second, he always held out the hope and determination that he’d beat the odds the way he has since he was 25 and was told he was dying of kidney disease. Unfortunately, a lot of time has passed and his body is pretty beaten up after all the years. Also, cancer is a nasty, cruel disease that is merciless a nd uncaring of one’s goals and dreams, as we all know. Consequently, we are confronted with the harsh realization that we cannot keep the store open without the Chef.

On his behalf, since he is not able, we want to convey first our gratitude for your support, your patronage, your friendship, and your participation in the cooking events, parties, team buildings, political support functions, and issues forums. We have enjoyed sharing these events with you over the years and will always treasure the memories of those times.
Second, we want to invite you to come to the store this Saturday, August 23rd, anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for a CHEF RAMEAUX MOVING-OUT SALE. We need to empty the store as soon as possible and any funds we gain will be helpful in resolving inevitable debts that arise when a person is as sick as the Chef has been. You will be able to purchase everything from the last of his Louisiana Cajun & Creole groceries to the tables and chairs and dishes. There are aprons, cookbooks, knick knacks, posters and other artwork, and a few pots and pans as well. Please come by to see what you might be interested in.
Thanks again for your support.  Unfortunately, the Chef will not be able to be there but Austin and I and other friends who have offered to help look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
Sincerely,
Peggy J. Beasley-Rodgers, Chef Rameaux’s wife

P. S. Please continue to check the Chef Rameaux website ( www.cheframeaux.com ) for updates on the Chef. Ultimately, his website will be used as a tribute and a memorial after his death. Also, rather than a funeral, his request is that we have a big party when he’s gone and celebrate the good times had in the past. Since the store will be closed, we’ll probably have it at our purple house at 800 N. Bloodworth Street in Historic Oakwood. Start practicing your favorite Chef R recipe to take to the party and celebration of his life. In addition, if you have memories or anecdotes or tributes you’d like to share (whether as Chef Rameaux or as Dr. Raymond S. Rodgers, professor of communication at NC State, or some other context), please email them to me to be included on the website and/or in a scrapbook for our family. Thank you sincerely for your caring and concern over the months. This has been a boost f or all of us, including the Chef, when we most needed it.