In Memoriam: Former Garden Vegetarian Restaurant Owner, Fair Havenite, Ty Yolac, 82

“The most authentic person on earth,” Ty Yolac, of Fair Haven, peacefully passed away on Jan. 27 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, surrounded by loved ones. He was 82.

“Ty and (his wife) Nile moved their family from Istanbul to America in 1985 and created a life beyond the American Dream. Ty owned and operated a restaurant in Red Bank called The Garden Vegetarian for 15 years. He built a community on 7 East Front Street, becoming the epicenter for young vegetarians in the early 90s. He was ahead of his time, serving Mediterranean vegetarian cuisine before hummus was available on grocery shelves or ‘plant-based’ was a buzz word.

“He was a lighthouse who guided everyone around him to always be real and stay true to themselves. In the early ’60s, everyone was going to India. Istanbul was the bridge between Europe and Asia and Ty went with a group of hippies to India, some of them including Richard Alpert, later known as Ram Das, author of Be Here Now. Ty lived by that mantra, to be present in the now. ‘The plan is no plan.’ Ty became vegetarian on that pilgrimage, never eating meat again in his lifetime.

“After India, he lived in London, Toronto and traveled frequently between European metropolises ultimately landing back in Istanbul where he met his wife, Nile. Since 1972 Ty and Nile have shared their love, marrying in 1981. Ty and Nile spent 54 loving years together. Every moment of their partnership filled with pure love.

“The most important roles he played were husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend. Though he also wore many hats both figuratively and literally — chef, gardener, photographer, musician, dog lover, writer, artist, art lover and many, many more. To know him was to love him or at least pause in quiet wonder at his rarity. A diamond in the rough, imperfect but unmistakable. A man with an ego, worn lightly, balanced by a natural ease with who he was.”
Loved ones of Ty Yolac in his obituary

Born in Elazig, Türkiye he was the middle child of three to Nevzat Yolac and Rebia Senel, government-paid teachers. Because of their work Ty, his older brother Erdam and younger sister Serap moved from city to city often.

“His life was worthy of awards, Oscars for his storytelling, Michelin stars for his meals, the soundtrack of his life would win Grammys. His unique talents were deserving of all of the awards. Ty has left Earth but will be remembered for his legacy of the community of people he fed and nurtured with his cooking and the plants and animals he loved and photographed.”

He is survived by: his beloved wife, Nile Yolac, of Fair Haven; his two children, Tayberk “Ty” Yolac and his spouse, Eryn, of Rolling Hills, CA, and Jeylan Yolac and her spouse, Rinaldo, of Austin, TX; and his four cherished grandchildren, Ivy and Leo (children of Ty), and Ayla and Zeppelin (children of Jeylan), who became the great joy of his life during his final decade. He is also survived by his younger sister, Serap Likeness, and her two sons, Dogan and Casey.