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Chef's death stuns cooking community Submitted photo Cathy Knapp, right, with son Juan, left, and daughter Carlie. Cooking was a family affair for the Knapps. Catherine Knapp recalled for generosity, talent By JONEL ALECCIA Monday's dinner menu at Medford's Fountain Plaza was exactly what Catherine Knapp would have cooked herself. Golden pork roast loin with prune sauce. Au gratin potatoes. Fresh broccoli. "We are going on because it's Cathy's kitchen and she set it up and that's what she'd want us to do," said Molly Parish, general manager of the retirement facility. But the center staff, its 150 residents and indeed the entire culinary community in Southern Oregon were reeling Monday from the loss of Knapp, who died Friday in a California car wreck. "She absolutely loved feeding all those people every day," Parish said. "It ranked right behind her kids." The death of Catherine Knapp and two family members stunned the tight-knit community of Southern Oregon chefs, who in 1998 voted her chef of the year. "I keep expecting her to call me," said Janet Crager, executive chef at Medford's Horton Plaza. Catherine Knapp, 41, was president of the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation and a primary force for the expansion of educational opportunities in the area, said Jesse Bartyzal, executive chef at Lake of the Woods. Plus, he added, she was a heck of a cook. "There's something about food that's almost like square dancing or doing the waltz," Bartyzal said. "It takes rhythm and people either have it or they don't. Cathy's one of the people that had it." Catherine Knapp was one of the founders of the Beary Beary Brunch, an annual charity event that last year raised $3,000 for the Children's Advocacy Center in Medford. It grew out of her two loves, colleagues said: children and food. "She'd seen situations where kids had had rough lives, where they'd been bounced around from place to place," said Crager. "Cathy wanted to help." The brunch, scheduled this year for Saturday, April 29, was a family event for the Knapps. Carlie Knapp would cook, Juan Knapp would bus tables and Stephen Knapp would fill a plate, Crager said. The event, held at the Skyline Plaza in Medford, won't be the same without the Knapp family, said Carrie Hanson, outreach coordinator for the advocacy center. "It will happen, but obviously we'll all have heavy hearts," she said. Establishing the brunch was only the most visible accomplishment of Catherine Knapp, who started her culinary career as a dishwasher at the Pear Tree truck stop near Phoenix. She pushed her way into positions as prep cook and then line cook, then she pushed for formation of a culinary apprenticeship program. In 1991, she was named apprentice of the year. By 1998, she was named chef of the year. "She put her time and her energy into the work," said Bartyzal, who recommended Knapp for the executive chef's position when he left Fountain Plaza. "I just told her she was ready for it." Catherine Knapp offered inspiration, encouragement and education to chefs with experience of all kinds. She was as happy to show youngsters the ropes as she was to attend lavish food shows with veteran colleagues. Tom Bates, chef at the Bella Union in Jacksonville, recalls a five-day trip to Las Vegas where he and Knapp swapped techniques and attended classes. Her loss is a loss to the entire community of chefs, said Bates, who is vice president of the local culinary chapter. "When I heard about it Friday, it was like every dinner I served that night was in her honor." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA