Pierre Wolfe

The iconic restaurateur Pierre Wolfe died peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on November 7, 2018. Pierre was born of French parentage in Berlin, Germany on August 9, 1925. During the rise of Hitler, Wolfe, at the age of 16, joined the Free French Forces and served with the British Eighth Army in North Africa and the Middle East.

After the war, Wolfe worked on a British cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea before following his sister Suzanne Joshel, to Denver in 1950. Pierre's first job was in the kitchen of the Brown Palace Hotel, working his way up to sous-chef. In 1952 Wolfe became the chef and ultimately the owner of The Patio Restaurant in Littleton.

During Wolfe's Patio days he met his future wife (of 58 years), Jean, at the Elitch Gardens summer theater. He began dating the Denver school teacher, and they were married in 1960 at his sister's Hilltop home. They have two children, Karen and Ron.

The same year he was married, Wolfe opened the Quorum Restaurant in Capitol Hill. Throughout three decades, the Quorum was ranked among the best restaurants in Denver. Travel Holiday Magazine cited it for excellence for 25 consecutive years. Wolfe was honored as an Ivy Award winner, among the longest-standing and most-coveted accolades in the food service industry. Pierre also opened the Normandy French Restaurant which was run by his cousin Heinz Gerstle (also recently deceased), and the Tante Louise. All three restaurants flourished in Denver for decades. Wolfe's daughter, Karen Wolfe Herrmann, followed in her father's footsteps in the restaurant business operating the Normandy French Restaurant.

Wolfe shared his love of food and cooking on both radio and television, starting in the 1950s. He hosted a nationally syndicated radio show ""America's Dining and Travel Guide,"" from his Denver home. His 60 years in radio made him the longest continuous broadcaster in the business. Wolfe hosted his last show just weeks before his passing.

Wolfe also combined his love of travel with his love of food, hosting cooking broadcasts and podcasts from cruise ships and from countries including Vietnam, China, and Tunisia, often interviewing chefs and restaurateurs from the region.

In 2001, Wolfe wrote a book about dining in Denver entitled Tastefully Yours: Savoring Denver's Restaurant Past. That book was followed by a novel, The Tall Fellows, and a book of short stories - Tell Tales Pierre Wolfe.

Wolfe is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Karen and her husband Paul; son, Ron and his wife Ashley and five grandchildren: Chris, Lily and Thyra Herrmann; Devon and Quentin Wolfe.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at the University of Denver Newman Center on December 19th at 10:30 a.m. This event is open to the public including free parking at the Newman Center and a reception to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Restaurant Association Foundation for student scholarships.

Celebration of Life: December 19, 2018 10:30 am

Robert & Judi Newman Center
2344 E. Iliff Avenue
Denver, CO 80210