ORLANDO Fla. Joe Amendola, ambassador of The Culinary Institute of America and founder of Fessel International, died here yesterday. He was 87.
Born on Oct. 19, 1920, in New Haven, Conn., Amendola started baking at age 9 as an apprentice to his uncle. He was with the CIA from its inception in New Haven and was the school's first baking instructor. He also specialized in ice carving and wrote textbooks on baking and ice carving.
In addition to teaching and writing, his career highlights include being appointed dean of students and serving as an interim president of the culinary school during the early 1980s.
He continued his affiliation with the CIA long after his retirement in 1988, serving as an ambassador to the school. He also maintained a leadership role at Fessel International, a foodservice and hospitality consulting company.
"There is no question that Joe Amendola was one of the key figures in the history of The Culinary Institute of America," Tim Ryan, the CIA's president, wrote in an internal memo to his staff.
Mr. A., as Amendola was affectionately known at the CIA by students and management, told NRN in an interview in 1995: "It seems every time I help people I get back tenfold in other ways. I always learn so much when I teach others. I'm constantly learning.
"Some people have money; I have knowledge," he added. "I would definitely recommend the culinary profession to anyone. I have been able to travel the globe and enjoy the best of everything ... I reflect on all the wonderful people that I met along the way."
Amendola is survived by his wife, Marge; daughter, Jeannie, who is an ambassador for Disney World; and son, Joe, who is a chef manager for Aramark.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 28 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando.