I am in Chicago for work this week and found out about Chef Trotter died here, at his home, yesterday morning. I went to eat at a restaurant last night that was strongly influenced by him and the mood was somber and of shock.
He turned the culinary world in the States on its' head in the 80's and changed dining, here, forever in a fantastic way. His passing is very sad- especially those of us in the industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/dining/charlie-trotter-chicago-chef-who-elevated-american-dining-dies-at-54.html?ref=dining,