David Babcock, founder and owner of gourmet kitchen store Clementine’s in Del Rey Oaks, Calif., and Brinton’s in Carmel before that, died Aug. 3.
Babcock’s career started at a young age at the local Moose Lodge where his parents John and Barbara Babcock were active members. Before Clementine’s, he managed the private Quail Creek Ranch Equestrian estate. Babcock moved on to the California Culinary Academy College of Food, first as a student and then as an instructor. He finished his education with two years in Paris at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culminating in the Grand Diplôme Patisserie, for which he was most proud, before returning in 2002 to Seaside, Calif., where he was born, to open Clementine’s with Drew Chernoy, his husband of 22 years.
In addition to his husband, Babcock is survived by his sister, Susan Rivait of Gulf Breeze, Fla., and her family.
“David and his family would like to thank the staff at Community Hospital for their compassionate and dedicated care during his five-year journey to peace,” Chernoy said in a statement. “Special thanks to Irving McKinney and everyone at Kernes Pool in Monterey, David’s special place of refuge.”
No funeral is planned. A celebration of life event will take place Oct. 11 at the Corral de Tierra Country Club.
