Obituary: Stephen Goodrich Gessner, III, 76, Formerly Of Branford

Obituary provided by the family.

Stephen Goodrich Gessner, III, age 76, of San Jose, CA., died on September 10, 2021 at Vasona Creek Healthcare Center in Los Gatos, CA.

Stephen was born in New Haven, CT on January 19, 1944. He was the son of the late Anne Gertrude Gessner and Stephen Goodrich Gessner, Jr., and grew up in New Haven and Branford, Connecticut.

He is survived by his sons, Stephen Goodrich Gessner, IV of Madison, CT and Timothy Hamilton Gessner (Janet) of Chester, CT; two sisters, Barbara Cressman, of San Jose,CA, with whom he made his home upon retirement, and Sally Gessner (Kate Collins) of Branford, CT; 3 grandchildren: Margaret, Hannah and Laura Gessner of Chester CT; niece Jennifer Cressman and nephew Mark Cressman of San Jose; nephew Jeffrey (Sandy) Cressman and grand nieces Natalie and Julianna Cressman of San Francisco; as well as long time dear friends Bill and Heather Joyce of North Kingstown, RI with years of culinary adventures and good company and Maryann Gravitt of West Point, CA, horticultural guide to morning glories and unfailingly good backyard company.

Steve attended The Gunnery School in Washington, CT and was a graduate of Branford High School, and the University of New Haven. His long-term career was in the culinary field, and it spanned from restaurant/ kitchen management to roles as senior and head chef in both East and West coast establishments.

Steve was known for his intelligence, humor and curiosity. He was a voracious reader and seemed to never be without a book, newspaper, crossword puzzle, magazine or some source of reading material in his hands or by his side. He once said if he had nothing but the back of a cereal box to read he would grab it. He was also a skilled bridge player and happily joined in when a fourth was needed in a family game. He was fully engaged by three primary and essential activities: cooking; reading and fishing and was most focused and comfortable when involved in any one of these. His conversation inevitably revolved around recipes, cooking techniques and his latest recommendations and discussions of books.

He will be remembered, spoken of often, and always missed.

No funeral or memorial service is planned at this time.