Posted on August 27, 2012
Harlem World
For 50 years, Calvin Copeland, was the master chef and owner of Copeland’s Restaurant and Reliable Catering on West 145th Street in Harlem. …“the place” that made him famous by cooking and serving his delicious, and often catered, Southern foods and a little bit of live Jazz.
He closed his doors in 2007 due to a looming recession and poor health. Mr. Copeland always dreamed that one day, he would make a comeback to the food business that he loved so much. Born in Virginia on May 1st 1925, Mr. Copeland (1925 – 2012) headed north to live with an aunt who taught him her secret recipe to making finger licking good, fried chicken. Never one to forget his southern roots, Mr. Copeland proudly proclaimed Harlem as “the place” that made him famous by cooking and serving his delicious, and often catered, Southern foods and a little bit of live Jazz. A great teacher and mentor to those in need of a trade to make a decent living, Mr. Copeland trained many into the restaurant business. Even people coming out of prison with no real job options could depend on him for a professional introduction into the culinary arts. Mr. Copeland witnessed and analyzed every social and economic transition that Harlem went through over the last three decades in particular, always with the belief that “Harlem would make it if people just hung in there…” Mr. Copeland spent the last 18 months of his life at the Northern Manhattan Nursing Home on East 125th Street battling Alzheimer’s disease. He succumbed to the complications of his worsening condition early this morning, August 23rd at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. He was 87 years old. His wife, Rita predeceased him a few years ago. He is survived by his four children: Irene Clark, Calvin Copeland, Jr., Gwendolyn Copeland and Vincent Copeland.
All Funeral Arrangements Handled ByBenta’s Funeral Home – 630 St. Nicholas Avenue and 141st Street on Tuesday, August 28th from 3 PM to 8 PM.
Our Lady of Lourdes RCC – 436 West 142nd Street on Wednesday, August 29th at 10 AM.
From D. Dowling and R. Smith.
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Monday, August 27th 2012 at 11:06PM
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