In Memoriam: Juan Brenes

Juan Brenes, a lead cook in Dining Services for over a decade, died on August 21 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 58 years old.

An accomplished chef known for his diverse culinary skills, Brenes started at Middlebury in 2014 as a lead evening cook, following a 17-year career as executive sous-chef at Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes. He also held several roles at the College, including in retail operations and as lead cook at the Snow Bowl and in retail foods. 

“Juan has been a huge part of dining for the past 10 years,” said Dan Detora, executive director, food service operations. “He had tremendous culinary skills and a passion for cooking great food. Juan was a team player and always had a smile on his face, even with his failing health.”

Born on July 2, 1968, in Limón, Costa Rica, Brenes grew up in Dover, New Jersey. His culinary career took him across the United States and internationally before he settled in Vermont. Tammy Iffland, a dining chef who worked with Brenes in Ross Dining Hall, where he was a cook since January 2025, recalled his regular support of fellow employees.

“Juan had a way about him that was genuine and kind,” she said. “He was one of the most respectful fellow employees that I have worked with here at the College.”

Justin Edson, assistant director of retail food operations, who became a father around the same time as Brenes, emphasized Brenes’s dedication to his family. They shared a love of Star Trek and exchanged themed gifts for each other’s children.

“My daughter still curls up with the Spock blanket from Juan,” said Edson. “He was a family man through and through… he chose to take a cook role with us so he could better support his family. That quiet sacrifice said everything about his priorities. Juan was the epitome of a good man. He served, he sacrificed, and he loved without conditions.”

Brenes is survived by his wife, Samantha; six children and stepchildren—Jason, Mai, Elijah, Joshua, Carlos, and a son due in November; mother, Jovita Brenes; sisters, Lillian Brenes and Priscilla Brenes; a niece, Cassidy Recio; and sister-in-law, Lynda Cerino. 

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 29, at 10 a.m. at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 326 College Street, Middlebury Vermont.