John Cabot

Dear HFM members:

It is with great sadness that we inform you that longtime HFM associate member John Cabot passed away yesterday. John, the senior vice president of national sales and marketing for U.S. Foodservice in Rosemont, IL, was a tremendous supporter of HFM, both as a member of the board and the IAC.

John was the recipient of HFM's first ever "John Cabot – Making a Difference Award" at the 2007 HFM Annual Leadership Conference. The award was created in John's honor in 2007 as a way to recognize future leaders who demonstrate sustained and selfless service to the organization.

John said that he was moved by the association's recognition and touched that it came from his peers.

"The outpouring of support from the awards night attendees was unbelievable," John said after the awards ceremony. "Being recognized in this way by the operators in our industry was the greatest honor of my career."

Past President Mary Keysor, who helped introduce John at the 2007 awards banquet, called him a mentor to many in the room, and a tremendous friend to HFM.

"So many projects and programs exist and have been improved because of his participation," Mary said at the award's banquet.

John joined Kraft, Inc., Kraft Foodservice in 1977 and quickly worked his way up the ranks of the organization. In 1989, he spearheaded the formation of Baxter Healthcare, which specialized in the acute healthcare market – the Dietary Products division of Kraft. John held many top management positions in the company, including even after U.S. Foodservice purchased the former Baxter Healthcare, then called Alliant Foodservice, in 2001.

John joined HFM in 1995 as a member of the board. He went on to serve on the Industry Advisory Council from 1995 to 2002 and was also a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee for HFM from 2000 to 2003.

John's passion, vision and dedication to HFM and the healthcare foodservice industry will truly be missed.

John Cabot at the 2007 HFM Conference Awards Banquet.