Chef Matthew Lackey Dies in Climbing Accident

Chef Matt Lackey, a Tennessee native who moved to Colorado a couple of years ago, died on Monday, April 10 on a mountain climbing adventure outside of Denver. The 31 year was climbing on Mt. Princeton with two friends yesterday afternoon. A boulder he had grabbed dislodged and caused a 40 foot free-fall. He tumbled down another 100 feet. Lackey was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel.

A talented and free-spirited young man, Lackey made a name for himself in Charleston working in kitchens of Sean Brock’s Husk and McCrady’s. He was then executive chef at Nashville’s Flyte. In 2013, he was recognized as an Eater Young Gun. He moved to Colorado to open Arcana but parted ways with the Boulder restaurant a year ago, two months into its opening.

Lackey was still living in Boulder and was lending a hand at Pizzeria Da Lupo while working on his upcoming Denver project, CandR, a hot chicken and rosé spot he was to open in June in RiNo.