Gary David Fitting

Gary is the son of the late Eugene and Maxine Fitting of Harrisburg, PA.  After high school, Gary attended the Culinary Institute of America.  He then completed the Greenbrier Apprentice Program under the direction of Hermann G. Rusch at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia. Gary served as a cook for the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. 

Gary Fitting went on to become the Executive Chef of The Cloister Hotel on Sea Island, Georgia, a five-star, five-diamond resort.  His career also includes the title of Food and Beverage Director for the Sea Palms Resort on St. Simons Island, Georgia, Food and Beverage Director for the four-star, four-diamond Kiawah Island Resort, Charleston, South Carolina and the Food and Beverage Director for Virginia Tech Dining in Blacksburg, Virginia.  The last 18 years of his career were spent as a chef instructor for IUP Academy of Culinary Arts where he helped influence many careers of future chefs.  Chef Fitting developed an exchange program between IUP and DCT International School in Luzerne, Switzerland which allowed students to earn credits toward European diplomas in culinary arts or baking and pastry.  He was an active member of the American Culinary Federation.  His honors include the ACF Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award in 2007.  Chef Fitting also received his certification from the World Association of Chefs Society.  Chef Fitting was the first chef in the United States to receive certification from WACS, a global network of chefs’ associations first founded in 1928 at the Sorbonne in Paris. He loved teaching.  He loved his students.  He loved Switzerland and Las Vegas.

Gary is survived by his daughter Kimberly (Tim) Williams and their daughter Savannah Lee Williams, 6, of Rockingham, NC.  Gary’s son, Christopher (Jen) Fitting and children Christopher Fitting Jr., 20 and Lindsey Fitting, 18 reside in Pheonixille, PA.  Gary is also survived by his brother Bill (Carolyn) Fitting of Ponte Vedra, FL and their children Brooks Hall and Cindy Hall Davis.

Funeral Services to be held at 11am, Thursday August 2, 2018 at Richmond County Memorial Park  in Rockingham, NC.                                 

Memorial contributions can be made to the Foundation for IUP, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705. Note: Academy of Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund.
This fund was established to provide scholarships for incoming culinary students.