Paul Lopez Needs Us- Lets Show the Power of Community!

Tragedy has struck the life of Chef Paul Lopez and his family while home in Jamaica this winter. Paul was in a severe automobile accident on February 1st and is currently in University Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. He suffered fractures of his legs, feet, pelvis, and neck and was in surgery after the accident for 18 hours. On February 12th, sepsis had set into one of his legs and that leg had to be amputated. They are treating him now to stabilize the infection in order to be able to perform more needed surgery.

His wife Rhona and his kids have rented a place to stay near the hospital as it is an hour and a half from their home in Ocho Rios. Paul’s attitude is good. He is a man of faith and fortitude. The road ahead, however, is long and fraught with challenges, financial and otherwise, and Paul and his family could really use the help of his Nantucket family.

Paul has been a seasonal “steady as you go” rock star in the kitchens of Nantucket for a couple of decades now. He has come for the long season on an H2B visa and returned home every winter to be with his family and tend his little farm. Paul is the epitome of the hard-working H2B visa recipient who keeps our kitchens world-class here on the island. He would work two jobs seven days a week. If you have eaten out on Nantucket, Paul has probably prepped or made your meal - breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

He worked with Marshall Thompson and crew at The Even Keel Cafe, Jetties Beach Bar and Restaurant, Surfside Beach Shack and Taco Truck, and with Patty Kennedy and Chef Ron and their fantastic staff at the DownyFlake. Paul also worked with Patrick Ridge at Island Kitchen and with the Wheldens at The Lobster Trap, and Al Cunha and Neil and Ed Grennan at The Languedoc, and his all-time favorite - shucking scallops in the shanty with Evie Sylvia!

Right now, Paul and his family are taking things a day at a time. There will be a lot of financial challenges ahead. If you can make a donation to this GoFundMe for Paul, it will be so helpful as they navigate the days, weeks, and months ahead.