Peter Thomas Timmins, C.M.C., 57, passed away in West Palm Beach, FL, on Monday, October 27, 2014.
Born May 23, 1957, in Dublin, Ireland, he was the son of the late Peadar and Kathleen Timmins.
As a young man, Peter was an avid soccer and Gaelic football player. He played professionally both for Dublin clubs and competed at a national level on the Irish teams in both sports (under 16 and under 21 years of age).
His fascination with flying prompted a decision to take a part-time job cooking at the local airport, and with that, his culinary career began. He enrolled in St. Mary’s College in Dublin and there met his future wife. Over the coming years while raising his three children, he worked in several of Ireland’s best hotels and restaurants and competed with the Panel of Chefs of Ireland and won multiple Culinary Olympic Medals.
In 1994, he moved his family to the United States, where his relationship with The Greenbrier began. He served as their executive chef for over 10 years and continued what he loved most – teaching and mentoring young chefs. After earning the distinction of Certified Master Chef from the American Culinary Federation, he became one of a rare few to have this title in both Europe and the United States.
He is loved and survived by his wife, Isolde, and son, Peadar of Lewisburg, WV; daughter, Bebhinn of New York City; daughter and son-in-law and only granddaughter, Katie, Ty, and Kerrigan Edwards of Clifton Forge, VA; siblings, Colm Timmins, Fiona O’Leary, and Roisin O’Dea; and his peers, colleagues, and apprentices.
Services are scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2014, beginning at 2:30 PM at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in White Sulphur Springs, WV, and continue at 3 PM at The Greenbrier’s Kate Mountain Lodge.
Visitation with family to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations of sympathy be made to the Peter Timmins Memorial Scholarship Fund through the American Culinary Federation (ACFEF 800-624-9458 or by mail to 180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095. Please, reference “In Memory of Chef Timmins”).
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Originally published in the November 6, 2014, edition of the West Virginia Daily News.
