Friends Rally To Support Adored Chef, Radio Personality
By Space Coast Daily // June 11, 2012
Voice of WFIT's 'The Sandman'
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Revered Melbourne chef, food-as-passion instructor and former Café Stella Blue restaurant-owner Jack Garrison is recovering following a serious accident in mid-May in Indialantic.
Garrison was admitted to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne following the accident, where the attending surgeons pieced him back together after he was struck head-on by a vehicle and then run over after being thrown from his motor scooter on Highway A1A.
He is not expected to return to the kitchen or the radio airwaves before 2013.
Known to many by voice only, Jack also is the adored WFIT radio personality “The Sandman,” who has crafted master playlists of soulful selections, producing and hosting on the station for more than 13 years.
Lately, “The Sandman” has done a number of fill-in shows for longtime friend and WFIT radio regular Fred Migliore, who is on a leave of absence from the station.
Jack’s love of music and cooking originate from his extensive travels around the globe, including working as a chef in France, Manila, Bangkok, Madrid, Hong Kong and New Orleans, before he opened the eclectic bistro Café Stella Blue in Melbourne.
The restaurant enjoyed critical acclaim and was host to a number of exciting culinary events before closing in in 2007.
Since then, Jack has worked as a culinary adviser, personal chef and instructor for hundreds of adults in community classes, designing and teaching a number of unique cooking courses – from simple, introductory methods to highly-skilled, advanced instruction using the globe and world foods as backdrop to his expertise.
He also is an instructor at Florida Fields to Forks, a Community Supported Agriculture farm in Malabar.
Details of a fall fundraiser for Garrison, including entertainment from a local music legend are forthcoming.
In the meantime, contributions are being accepted at P.O. Box 33978, Indialantic, FL 32903-3978 to assist Jack with rehabilitation and living expenses.
For more information, call 321-537-5591.
