UTICA, N.Y. (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – A native Hawaiian by both her birth and her ethnicity; Noe has lived in Utica since we returned to my hometown in the early 90s. She quickly embraced our community and always worked to spread genuine Aloha spirit in professional and volunteer roles.
Noe was the first manager of Thornberry’s restaurant, a downtown Utica institution for many years. She was also the initial food and beverage manager at the Hotel Utica after it re-opened and had a similar position at the Stanley Theater. She enjoyed great success in all of these roles.
Her final years of work included Catering Manager at A Moveable Feast, catering high profile events such as former President Clinton’s appearance at Colgate University, and even working with the Secret Service extensively when then Vice-President Cheney spoke at Hotel Utica.
While her technical culinary skills were superb, it was her ability to work effectively with all sorts of people – from college presidents to front-line staff that was the key to her success. She demonstrated and demanded respect from everyone regardless of their social standing or economic status.
In recent years, Noe has had to deal with a medical condition called Multiple Systemic Atrophy – like Parkinson’s. She bravely faced her deteriorating physical condition head-on, with quiet determination. She is the living embodiment of what Hawaiians call “Iokahi” – resilience and perseverance in the face of hardship.