This article was written 太子探花鈥檚 news partner and republished with permission.
Local restaurateur Wilson Whitney, 60, has died of lung cancer, family and co-workers say.
Whitney passed away Wednesday, April 10, after being diagnosed with cancer last May, according to his business partner Chris Lefbom and his father Herbert 鈥淏ud鈥� W. Whitney.
The restauranteur was behind some of Arlington鈥檚 most enduring watering holes, including Rhodeside Grill in Rosslyn, Ragtime in Courthouse and William Jeffrey鈥檚 Tavern on Columbia Pike. He also opened several restaurants in Falls Church.
Whitney was born in Tyler, Texas in 1958 and studied construction before finding a taste for the restaurant industry while working part-time at a barbecue joint in Lubbock, Texas, according to an obituary written by his father.
It was at Rhodeside Grill that he hired Adam Lubar and聽Lefbom as bartenders, later opening (1345 N. Courthouse Road) together with them in 2001.
Whitney also partnered with three other Grill employees 鈥� Aimee Suyehiro, Stephen Scott, and Adam Roth 鈥� to open fine Italian dining spot Argia鈥檚 in Falls Church which in September.鈥�
One of Whitney鈥檚 most recent ventures was William Jeffrey鈥檚 Tavern at 2301 Columbia Pike,聽 with business partners with Lubar and Lefbom in 2011. Previously, the trio opened Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church.
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To Lubar and Lefbom Whitney was 鈥渁 mentor, boss, manager, partner and friend to hundreds of restaurant employees over the years,鈥� the two said in .
When he wasn鈥檛 helming his armada of restaurants, Whitney enjoyed boating on Lake Barcroft, practicing carpentry, and the Washington Nationals, Lefbom told ARLnow.
鈥淗e was scheduled to retire in July and didn鈥檛 quite make it,鈥� Lefbom said. 鈥淚 would鈥檝e loved to see him relaxed in retirement with zero stress from the restaurant industry. He deserved it.鈥�
Whitney lived in Arlington for the past 23 years and is survived by his wife Alica Lima-Whitney and two daughters Emma and Clara as well as his extended family: parents Herbert 鈥淏ud鈥� W. Whitney and Elaine Whitney and sister Merrie Whitney of Richardson, Texas, brother David Whitney of Montrose, Colorado, and sister Laura Daly of Austin, Texas.
Rhodeside Grill, Ragtime and William Jeffrey鈥檚 Tavern were all closed for lunch Monday to allow restaurant employees to 鈥渟ay goodbye to and celebrate the life of our friend, co-worker and boss,鈥� according to social media posts.
