Jock Zonfrillo has been remembered in a touching tribute from his wife on what would have been his 50th birthday.
The MasterChef judge and celebrity chef died suddenly at a Melbourne hotel in April 2023.
His widow Lauren Zonfrillo posted a picture of the pair on social media “on what would have been (his) 50th” birthday.
“Happy Birthday my love,” Ms Zonfrillo wrote.
“Our little family are eating lunch in the exact restaurant you would have chosen.
“Tears, plenty of laughter, and so many stories of Papa. Life will never be as it should have been, but we’re forging a new one, and it too is wonderful.”
The post was showered in love from many of Zonfrillo’s colleagues and celebrity chefs from round the world.
“Much love to you and family,” British chef Jamie Oliver wrote.
Fellow MasterChef judge Andy Allen responded: “Sending so much love to you and the kids.”
Ms Zonfrillo released a book last year titled Till Death Do us Part to help other people find comfort through their own pain and suffering.
Ms Zonfrillo explained how she experienced grief amnesia – a physical response to the trauma she felt – following her husband’s death.
“I tried as many roads away from the impact zone as I could, and I tried them as quickly as possible,” she said.
“I had our three and five-year-olds that needed normal levels of parenting, which at that age is quite a lot, but they also needed extra care and nurturing as they learned to live with grief in their life.”
