Leland McMahon Talbot III, celebrated chef
Leland "OC Chef" and "Chef Lee" McMahon Talbot III, 72 of Millville, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Lee passed away after a four-year battle with terminal cancer.
Lee was born Dec. 21, 1943, in Annapolis, Md. He was the second child of five, and the only son of Leland and May Talbot.
Lee graduated from Annapolis High School in 1961 and remained in the area for the next 20 years before moving to Ocean City, Md., in 1981. He attended George Washington University, studying law before he discovered his love of food, and began his career in cooking. Lee graduated from The American Culinary Federation and The National Chef Association in 1979. He worked at the Ramada Inn in Lanham, Md., from 1975-80, then went on to work at The National Republican Club in Washington, D.C. from 1980-81.
He felt something was missing so he moved to the beach. Lee went on to work at The Sheraton Fontainebleau Inn and Spa in Ocean City, from 1981-84. He then became executive chef at The Wharf Restaurant in Ocean City, from 1987-92. He worked as executive chef at The Carousel Hotel and Resort until 1994; he then worked at Tom and Terry's in Fenwick Island until retiring in 2002.
Lee had a love for music, especially the blues, and in the early sixties, this led him to a small recording studio and the development of Music Research Inc. producers of Bullfrog and Piedmont Records where he acted as secretary treasurer. Lee and his friend Tom Haskins, in their research, tracked down Mississippi John Hurt and brought him up from Avalon, Miss., to play at the Ontario Place in Washington, D.C.
Lee was also an avid reader of anything science fiction or mystery, with an extensive collection of over 30,000 books. Lee and his son Robert were avid Nationals fans and rarely missed a game together. "Go Nats!"
Most of all Lee loved his family, the company and joy of good people, and the peace and quiet of life in Sussex County.
Lee was preceded in death by his father Leland McMahon Talbot Jr, his mother May Lucille Hassell Talbot; and one sister Betty Ann Talbot.
He is survived by his son Robert Leland Talbot of Millville; three sisters, Edna Talley of Goldsboro, Md., Cindy Cadogan (David) of Pasadena, Md., and Patty Robles of Mechanicsville, Md.; 12 nieces and nephews Lyn, Jay, Debbie, Cathy, Beth, Gus, Stephanie, Andrew, Sunni, Lee, Heather and Emily; and numerous grand- and great-grand-nieces and -nephews.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Road, Ocean View, from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a celebration of life scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com.
