Segundo Daniel Quishpe Sanay, better known to Lancaster as “Chef Daniel,” died May 14, 2024, after trying every trick to outmaneuver leukemia. He was 57.
Born to a farming family in the Andean town of Guasuntos, Ecuador, Daniel was 22 when he immigrated to Queens. He arrived with little money and even less English. He had never heard of “brunch.” But he was ready to work hard, whatever the job. A brother got Daniel a job washing dishes at an Upper East Side bistro; from there, his culinary talent, twinkling eyes, and great fortune to work under several gifted chefs lifted him through the kitchen ranks. In Lancaster, where he and his wife have lived since 2004, he was the last executive chef of the Pressroom Restaurant under the ownership of Steinman Communications. Before the Pressroom, he was the chef of Checkers Bistro. In a profession famous for explosive tempers, Daniel stood out for his easygoing nature and generosity. It’s comforting to think that his legacy will live on through the scores of cooks who learned not only his way with scallops and recipe for Caesar dressing, but a different model of mentoring and bringing out the best in people.
Above all, Daniel was devoted to his large extended family. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Kris; sons Quinn, 17, and Marco, 13; mother Albina; siblings Miguel, Luis, Jorge, Margarita, and Ligia; in-laws Ray, Nancy, Erica, Joel, and Olga; and other relatives in the U.S. and Ecuador. Amid the cruel injustices of his illness, one gift emerged: in the last two years of his life, free from the daily grind of work, Daniel got to spend an abundance of time with his family.
A Spanish-language mass is being planned in Queens, followed by a life celebration party in Lancaster this summer. For those interested in donating to charity in Daniel’s honor, the family suggests Be the Match, the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, or Hospice & Community Care.