The Sonny Sweetman Legacy Scholarship
"Excellence was not simply his standard, it was his spiritual practice. His dying wish was still about lifting others higher.”
— Oprah Winfrey
Those words, spoken at Sonny’s memorial service, capture the essence of Edward “Sonny” Sweetman—a chef, mentor, leader, and friend whose greatest gift was helping others achieve their dreams.
At just 55 years old, Sonny passed away after a courageous battle with the rare cancer, Uveal Melanoma. While his life was cut too short, his impact will continue for generations to come.
Today, we invite you to become part of that legacy.
The Sonny Sweetman Legacy Scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to deserving C•CAP students pursuing their education at Johnson & Wales University—Sonny’s alma mater. By supporting the next generation of culinary, hospitality, and business professionals, we are honoring Sonny’s lifelong commitment to excellence and service.
Your contribution is more than a donation; it is an investment in the future of hospitality.
Sonny’s remarkable career was highlighted by success at The Ritz-Carlton, owner of The Abercrombie Fine Food & Accommodations, working alongside culinary icon Wolfgang Puck, serving as a private chef to Oprah Winfrey, and most recently, he served as Executive Chef at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
Yet, his greatest accomplishment - in addition to his three extraordinary children - were the lives he shaped along the way.
Throughout his career, Sonny mentored countless chefs and hospitality professionals, while many others credit him with changing the trajectory of their lives and careers. Sonny never measured success by titles or accolades. He measured it by the people he could encourage, teach, and champion.
Our goal is that recipients of The Sonny Sweetman Legacy Scholarship will be selected not only for their academic promise, but for the qualities he valued most: leadership, curiosity, resilience, kindness, and a commitment to serving others with excellence.
If Sonny touched your life, inspired your career, shared a meal with you, or simply made you feel valued, we ask that you consider making a gift. Together, we can ensure that his life’s work and legacy live on.
Thank you deeply for your support,
Jayne Portnoy
