A memorial fund has been set up to ensure lasting support for the wife and two young children of Irish chef Shaun Brady, who was shot dead outside his restaurant in Kansas City on Wednesday.
Mr Brady was originally from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, and co-owned Brady’s KC restaurant in the Brookside area of Kansas City in the US state of Missouri.
Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with his killing.
Mr Brady was bringing rubbish to a bin when he noticed that young men were stealing a car. An interaction occurred between the 44-year-old and the thieves. He was shot multiple times and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Mr Brady was well known and respected in Kansas City both for his culinary skills and his generosity of spirit. He frequently appeared on local television doing cookery demonstrations and played a huge part in the Kansas City Irish Fest which is scheduled this weekend.
A traditional Irish breakfast which was due to take place on Sunday has been cancelled to allow friends and loved ones of Mr Brady to gather and remember him.
The organisers of Kansas City Irish Fest said Mr Brady had a “deep pride in his culture and a contagious enthusiasm for celebration.”
“The light he brought to our Irish community will endure through those touched by his talent, spirit, and joy for life.”
They have appealed to both American and Irish people to make a donation to a memorial fund set up in his honour.
“By donating to the Shaun Brady Memorial Fund, you can ensure lasting support for Shaun’s family, including his beloved wife and two young children, helping them feel the comfort and security of his legacy for years to come.
“We invite you to contribute $45 – the ticket price of Shaun’s cherished Kansas City Irish Irish Fest Breakfast shared with friends, though any amount will mean the world to those who loved him and to the Kansas City Irish community that he brought together with his remarkable spirit. All proceeds will go directly to a trust fund to support Shaun's family.”
Donations can be made to the fund at gofund.me/b22217f6.
Meanwhile, Mary Kate Gliedt, executive director of the Kansas City Irish Centre, said they were “heartbroken” at the news of the death of their “stalwart supporter and true friend”.
“His restaurant Brady’s was an extension of himself — warm, open and welcoming to everyone.
“His excellent creations in the kitchen were no match for his innate hospitality and generosity.”
Ms Gliedt said Mr Brady never declined to help when they contacted him for assistance.
“He was a frequent contributor to Irish weddings, wakes, funerals and parties at the Irish centre, and always made the time to serve the community.
“Our thoughts, prayers and love are with Shaun, his wife and children, his extended family, the team at Brady’s, and all who were lucky enough to know Shaun.
“We at the centre, and the Kansas City community as a whole, will miss him terribly.”
Mr Brady is survived by his wife Kate, their two young children and his family members in Nenagh. Kate is originally from Wichita in Missouri. The couple met when Kate was on holiday in Ireland.
The family lived in Overland Park in Kansas City. Shaun and Kate married in 2005 and settled in Chicago, Illinois, before moving to Kansas City.
