Starker's (KC) Founder has died

[moosnsqrl]

I just heard this on the Walt Bodine Show and don't have any details yet. The caller indicated a memorial celebration at Classic Cup sometime soon. I will provide more details as soon as I find them.

Cliff was a true lover of fine food and wine, created one of the earliest deep cellars in Kansas City, and was an all-around bon vivant.

Clifford G. Bath, of Santa Rosa, California, passed on peacefully after a sudden but brief illness on January 26, 2008. Cliff is best remembered as the ultimate host with impeccable taste. His friendly, outgoing manner brought people together throughout his life. He will be remembered as a great mentor to many and dear friend to those who knew and loved him. Raised in Santa Rosa by George and June Bath, Cliff graduated from Santa Rosa High school in 1955 and completed his undergraduate degree at Oklahoma State University in 1961, where he would later be elected into the Oklahoma State Alumni Hall-of-Fame and receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Following two years as an Airborne Lieutenant Paratrooper in the U.S. Army, Cliff began a career with the Gilbert-Robinson restaurant management team in Kansas City, where his career and life's work would center. Nine years later, Cliff opened his own restaurant in Kansas City on the Country Club Plaza called Harry Starker's and for the next 34 years he anchored the Plaza restaurant community from that location, twice awarded Kansas City's "Restaurateur of the Year". In 1987, Cliff added Starker's Reserve, which became one of the premier fine dining facilities in America. In 1992, with over 12,000 bottles of wine on hand, Starker's Reserve received its first of 13 consecutive Wine Spectator's Grand Awards as one of the Best 100 Wine Lists in the World. It was through wine that Cliff continued his connection with Sonoma County and the agricultural roots of his family. Cliff spent years in 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America (FFA) activities as a child, raising pedigreed sheep, swine and beef cattle, winning the 1956 West Coast "Star Farmer" given by the national FFA. Cliff returned to Santa Rosa part-time in 1999, and retired there in 2006 when he sold Starker's Reserve. Cliff is survived by his beloved wife, Darlene McCullough Bath; his brother Don Bath and wife Gloria of St. Helena, Calif.; sister Darlyn Watt and husband Robert of Roseville, Calif.; his children Heather Bath and husband Jeff Reynolds of Los Angeles, Calif., and Spencer Bath of College Station, Texas; stepson Rey Vincent Luce III and wife Adrienne of Los Angeles, Calif.; stepdaughter Robin Luce Fahey and husband Sean Fahey of New York, N.Y.; three grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and loving family and friends. A visitation will also be held at Daniels Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, Calif., on Friday night, February 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will also be held there the following morning, February 2, at 11 a.m., and are open to all who wish to attend with a reception following at the Wild Oak Saddle Club, 550 Wild Oak Dr., Santa Rosa. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to following options: The Cliff Bath Scholarship for Excellence in Restaurant Hospitality c/o of Shawnee Mission Education Foundation, 7235 Antioch, Shawnee Mission, KS 66204; The OSU Alpha Gamma Rho Memorial Building Fund, Attn.: Mike Harden, 132 Orchard Lane, Stillwater, OK 74074.