Provided
Chef Hans Aeschbacher operated at the Chicago nexus of sports, food and fame.
As executive chef at the Chicago Stadium and the United Center in the early 1990s, he cooked for Bulls and Blackhawks players and their families, as well as team owners.
He was like family to the late Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz.
Michael Jordan, Chris Chelios and other athletes called him "Chef" or "Cheffy."
Two of his closest friends were Blackhawks alumni Stan Mikita and Cliff Koroll.
Mr. Aeschbacher cut a memorable figure.
He grew up Switzerland speaking Swiss German, had a thick accent, broad smile and remarkable knack for recalling names and other details of first encounters.