Who Was Jacques Pépin's Wife? All About Gloria Pépin
Jacques Pépin in September 2022
Jacques Pépin's wife Gloria Pépin was a constant fixture in the beloved TV chef's life for more than five decades.
Gloria was Jacques' favorite person to cook for, and he fondly recalled eating dinner together every night with a glass of wine—enjoying both the finer and simpler things in life together.
Their ritual included "intentionally reaffirming their marriage and their love," a tribute to Gloria reads in part. "With Sinatra or Aznavour singing, they would sometimes spontaneously dance after dinner (as long as Jeopardy! was over)." Relatable and romantic!
Gloria and Jacques' love story is rivaled only by his affection for chicken. Get to know the hilarious, fierce woman who won his heart.
Related: Jacques Pépin's Chicken and Rice with Cumin and Cilantro Is Inspired By His Wife
Who did Jacques Pépin marry?
Pépin married Gloria Evelyn Augier.
The couple met when Pépin was a ski instructor working at Hunter Mountain in New York.
"He had a nice bun, he had long sideburns—and I wasn't sure if he was straight or gay, because he was so good looking," she recalled on American Masters. "But I said, 'I'll give a shot.' And I booked a private lesson with him, even though I could ski better than he could."
Gloria said she had to take a second lesson with Pépin because he kept criticizing her skiing. When he invited her on a date to his apartment, he cooked her dinner that he reheated from Howard Johnson's.
Pépin and Gloria married in 1966 at New York Times food editor Craig Claiborne's home. Their daughter, Claudine, was born a year later.
The couple shared a love of cooking, as well as recreational activities: Pépin famously loves boules, and Gloria loves pétanque, a version of boules, and even launched her own competitive league of the game in Connecticut where the couple lived.
Related: Jacques Pépin on How to Make French Toast with Melted Ice Cream
Is Jacque Pépin's wife Gloria still alive?
Sadly, Gloria died in December 2020, surrounded by her loved ones in the Madison, Connecticut, home she shared with Pépin.
Describing her as Pépin's "life force" as well as his wife, an announcement from the chef read in part, "We are overcome with grief, but Gloria was a fighter: a strong, resilient, 'spill-no-tears' woman. She would no doubt urge us to get on with living our lives and continue to do the work we were meant to do."
After Gloria's passing in December 2020, Jacques' nightly dinner ritual changed.
"I still have a glass of wine, put the bread on the table. It's less sophisticated than my [late wife Gloria] would have done—she would set up the table by herself with flowers and so forth," he told NPR. "But we still set up the table and sit down and enjoy a meal."
Related: Jacques Pépin's 'French Style' Deviled Eggs Go Viral
Is Jacques Pépin still married?
Pépin was married to Gloria until her passing in December 2020. He hasn't remarried since her death.
About a week after Gloria's death, Pépin paid tribute to her on Instagram.
"Gloria was my rock, my friend, my adviser, my soulmate for the last 55 years, and life will never look the same or be the same again for me. I know that there will be moments of grief that will be overwhelming, especially at dinner times," he wrote. We're not crying, you're crying. (We're crying. So. Much.)
What did Gloria Pépin do?
In addition to raising their daughter, Claudine, Gloria owned Gloria's French Café in Connecticut. She also was Pépin's rock after his 1974 car crash, helping nurse him back to health.
In her youth before meeting Pépin, she ran a music studio. She also fought in Fidel Castro's war in Cuba, where she was vacationing with friends. What a badass.
What did Gloria Pépin die from?
Gloria's cause of death wasn't revealed publicly.
Related: Jacques Pépin's Simple Corn Soufflé
When was Gloria Pépin born?
Gloria Pépin was born in New York City on June 19, 1937. She was two years younger than her famous husband.
Was Jacques Pépin's wife Puerto Rican?
Gloria's mother was born in Puerto Rico and her father was born in Cuba.
