It's been reported by his granddaughter that Bob Petrillose, founder of "Johnny's Hot Truck" and a much beloved figure at Cornell for four decades, passed away last night. :`-(
May he forever be running through the Garden of Eden.
You did good work, Bob.
This makes me very sad.
Every so often you come across someone who becomes beloved by an entire community for doing something that seems unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Bob was one of those people. He was beloved, and he returned the feeling with lots of little, kind gestures. Just about everyone has a Bob story. It turns out that what he did was indeed important to many people.
One of my lasting images of Cornell is driving by Stewart on a cold rainy night, and giving a beep hello as I passed by. No matter how busy his hands were at the time, he always gave a wave to this semi-stranger out from the friendly and warming glow of the Hot Truck.
Thanks, Bob.
Well said Rich. It's a sad day. We miss you Bob.
PMP, uh, I mean RIP.
The highlight on my 25th reunion was waiting in a long line at the Hot Truck at 1AM and eating the sandwich in the lounge of a dorm. Of course it would have been even more fun with freezing weather (especially if you were one of those elite who got to wait inside the truck).
[quote ugarte]May he forever be running through the grease and Garden of Eden.[/quote]
FYP
RIP, Bob.
I just received the following email:
QuoteGood Morning,
Many of you may have already heard that Robert Petrillose – a.k.a. Hot Truck Bob – has passed away. For those who knew him, who loved a PMP at 3 a.m., or who simply appreciate his outsize role over 40 years as a Cornell cultural icon, it's a sad day. His obituary is accessible here:
http://www.legacy.com/theithacajournal/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=121193650
I'm writing because we are planning to include a feature obituary on Hot Truck Bob in the next issue of Ezra magazine, and we'd love to include the voices of alumni who knew him well. ....We are certain that many, many alumni will connect to and be interested in his unique Cornell story. Also, if anyone has pictures, either recent or historical, we'd be interested in those as well.
For those interested, memories and etc. are also being posted on the Facebook page dedicated to Hot Truck. Evidently, his granddaughter broke the news there yesterday.
My appreciation for your help.
Best,
Bryce Hoffman
Cornell Chronicle
Bryce T. Hoffman [bth25@cornell.edu]
In memory of Bob, here is the 2004 article from Gourmet on the Hot Truck.
http://blog.john-hayes.com/misc/hottruck.pdf
As further evidence of his legacy, in the last 2 days, I have discussed Hot Truck with Cornellians from the classes of '72, '75, '82, and '93, and grad '06 (including several full profs and a dean). Unsurprisingly, all these people have fond memories of Bob and the truck. I was particularly amused to learn that a WGC cost 45 cents in 1975. :)
[quote jeh25]In memory of Bob, here is the 2004 article from Gourmet on the Hot Truck.
http://blog.john-hayes.com/misc/hottruck.pdf
As further evidence of his legacy, in the last 2 days, I have discussed Hot Truck with Cornellians from the classes of '72, '75, '82, and '93, and grad '06 (including several full profs and a dean). Unsurprisingly, all these people have fond memories of Bob and the truck. I was particularly amused to learn that a WGC cost 45 cents in 1975. :)[/quote]
I consider it totally appropriate that the second page of the Hot Truck article appears next to an article about luminaries like Alain Ducasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud.
[quote ugarte][quote jeh25]In memory of Bob, here is the 2004 article from Gourmet on the Hot Truck.
http://blog.john-hayes.com/misc/hottruck.pdf
As further evidence of his legacy, in the last 2 days, I have discussed Hot Truck with Cornellians from the classes of '72, '75, '82, and '93, and grad '06 (including several full profs and a dean). Unsurprisingly, all these people have fond memories of Bob and the truck. I was particularly amused to learn that a WGC cost 45 cents in 1975. :)[/quote]
I consider it totally appropriate that the second page of the Hot Truck article appears next to an article about luminaries like Alain Ducasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud.[/quote]
So luminous that I had check Wiki to see who the heck they are. Having done so this uncultured lout does get your point and wholeheartedly agree. Although I'm sure I'd put Bob's work well above those others.
I sent this off to a '75 classmate of mine who lived a couple doors away in UH5 (btw, Dorm 4 still sucks, even if it isn't there). Hardly a night went by that he didn't hit the Hot Truck. After finals in December, he put in a Triple-Sui order for about 8, which he froze and took home to get him through intersession. He replied that he's going to make his annual donation to Cornell in Bob's memory.
[quote Killer]I sent this off to a '75 classmate of mine who lived a couple doors away in UH5 (btw, Dorm 4 still sucks, even if it isn't there). Hardly a night went by that he didn't hit the Hot Truck. After finals in December, he put in a Triple-Sui order for about 8, which he froze and took home to get him through intersession. He replied that he's going to make his annual donation to Cornell in Bob's memory.[/quote]
"In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to a scholarship established in Bob's name at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration C/O The Robert C. Petrillose Scholarship Fund, Tompkins Trust Company, Attention Sue Lason, PO Box 460, Ithaca, NY 14851."
Thanks. I'll be sure he gets that info.