Jay Lovell

Jay Lovell (born 1955) is an American chef and restauranteur. He is the son of American astronaut, Jim Lovell. He is the former owner of “Lovell’s of Lake Forest” restaurant in Lake Forest, Illinois, and currently operates "Jay Lovell's" restaurant in Highwood, Illinois.

Early life and education

Jay Lovell, was born on February 2, 1955, as James Lovell. He is one of the four children of American astronaut, Jim Lovell, and Marilyn Lovell. Jay, with his three siblings, Jeffrey Lovell, Susan Lovell and Barbara Lovell, grew up on the east and west coasts, but spent most of his time in Houston, Texas.

Jay was a graphic artist by profession, but later, he became a chef at his family-owned restaurant. Jay attended Kendall College, when it was located in Evanston, Illinois. 

Career

Jay's father, Jim, opened a fine dining restaurant called “Lovells of Lake Forest,” in Lake Forest, Illinois, on April 23, 1999. The restaurant displayed many artifacts from Lovell's time with NASA, as well as from the filming of Apollo 13. Jay, Jim, and the Lovell family operated the 132-seat restaurant, of which Jay was the chief chef. Jay also helped his father with the design of the restaurant.

Various big-names have visited the restaurant, including Tom Hanks, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Frank Borman, actress Barbara Eden, and boxer George Foreman.

In 2006, Jay Lovell bought the restaurant from his father.

Jay and his wife, Darice, operated the restaurant successfully through the years. However, the economic downturn in America during 2008 made it difficult for the family to maintain the business profitably. Subsequently, they put the restaurant on the market for sale in February 2014 and closed in April 2015, with the property, furniture, and equipment auctioned the same month.

At the same time, Jay and Darice opened a new, smaller restaurant, called “Jay Lovells,” in Highwood, Illinois. Jay made the announcement on their restaurant’s facebook page, stating: "We are just opening a second smaller restaurant along Sheridan Road across from Fort Sheridan,…Fresh, Homemade, Seasonal. A New Restaurant."

With the closure of “Lovell’s of Lake Forest,” the family kept the NASA memorabilia from the flight that was featured at the restaurant. That included a framed "Apollo 13" movie poster signed by actor Tom Hanks, who portrayed Lovell in a 1995 film based on the mission. 

An immense 20-by-8-foot mural, which was the inspiration for the 1970 Apollo 13 mission crew patch, was donated to Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. The mural was created in 1969 by American artist Lumen Martin Winter.