Prominent LI Chef, A James Beard-Honoree, Dies During Triathlon

GREAT NECK, NY — A Great Neck restaurateur who was renowned for his contributions to the culinary world has died, according to his Instagram page. He was 59.

Michael Ginor owns Lola in Great Neck, along with Hudson Valley Foie Gras in the Catskills, which received recognition from the James Beard Foundation.

Ginor suffered a heart attack during a triathlon in Israel on Friday, his publicist told the New York Daily News on Monday.

Famous chefs like Tom Colicchio and Gale Gand along with others in the culinary world remembered Ginor for not only his work as a chef, cookbook author and producer of foie gras, but as a family man and an advocate for charitable causes.

New York City restaurateur Franklin Becker called Ginor a "mensch of all mensches."

"He was always there for everyone. Just a selfless human being full of life. Rip my friend," he wrote.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras is the largest producer of foie gras in the U.S., Newsday reported.

Ginor was born in Israel and grew up in Great Neck, Newsday wrote. He was passionate about Ironman triathlons along with other hobbies, and enjoyed showing the world and different cultures to his children.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie, and three children: Yonatan, Jordan and Maya.