Family and friends of Tanya Tandoc gathered at The Orpheum on Thursday, June 11 to celebrate her life. Images captured during the evening may be viewed in this slide show, and you can listen to an audio recording of the celebration on this player:
KMUW's Sean Sandefur has this coverage of the celebration:
Over a thousand people gathered at the Wichita Orpheum Theatre last night to celebrate the life of local chef and KMUW commentator, Tanya Tandoc, who died last week.
A slideshow was projected on a large white screen at the back of the stage; photos of Tanya Tandoc were the backdrop to an hour of live music, dancing, and remembrances.
“Tanya came into my life when I was five years old," her stepson, Evan Gottstine, said. "She taught me about unconditional love and patience. And that’s something I will hopefully pass on to someone else and hopefully something something I’ve passed on already.”
Two employees from Tanya’s Soup Kitchen, which Tandoc re-opened in 2011, also spoke, including Chef Kelly Rae Leffel.
“If it wasn’t for Tanya, I would have never actually called myself a chef," Leffel said. "Without formal training, she would always say to me, a musician can be self-taught, an artist can be an artist without trying, so why the hell can’t you be a chef?”
Singer Nikki Moddelmog also performed alongside local musicians Mark Foley and Shane Marler.
"Tanya Tandoc: A Celebration of Life" Memorial Slideshow:
Credit: Judy Handley
Photos collected by Paula Moore.
