Benjamin Joseph Fricke, 31, of Charleston, SC, passed away Thursday, April 5, 2018.

He was born December 8, 1986, in Jacksonville, FL, son of John Benjamin Fricke, Jr. and Linda Cowart Fricke.

Ben grew up in Jacksonville and Pensacola, FL. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail at twenty, Ben settled in Alaska where he pursued environmental interests in table top mining and sustained marine fisheries. He then moved to the California west coast where he became interested in farm to table cuisine. Ben loved the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts where he grew up and spent many hours on its beaches and the water. Following graduation from the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, OR, Ben returned to the east coast to Charleston, SC, with its vibrant culinary scene. He quickly fell in love with the coastal low-country life and Charleston's charm and history.

Ben is preceded in death by his grandparents, John & Olive Fricke of Pensacola, FL and Joe & Edie Cowart of Birmingham, AL.

Ben is survived by his mother and father, John and Linda Fricke of Tallahassee, FL; sister, Macy Fricke of Tallahassee and brother, Peter Fricke of Pensacola.

Memorial Mass will be held 11:00am Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola, FL, with Fr. Joe Callipare celebrant.