# Charlie Trotter, WTF? \[edited: RIP\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664 "2013-08-31T15:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/22 "2013-11-06T01:49:08Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > That was my first thought when I heard the news. I kind of hope not because that would mean he was more troubled than people close to him knew. No idea if there is a connection, but I’m inclined to think not likely. He was always known to have a very mercurial personality. I’m pretty certain the idea of him being “troubled” has been exaggerated. Either way we should know soon. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, so I would think there will be some indication fairly soon. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/23 "2013-11-06T05:20:08Z")
Maybe an undiagnosed brain tumor that led to odd behavior and then a fatal event? Or maybe just coincidence. In any case … sad. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/24 "2013-11-06T06:23:53Z")
Larry Stone, who worked as Sommelier for Chef Trotter, has told the Chicago Tribune, Charlie was aware he had an inoperable brain aneurysm for several years. [http://www.wbez.org/news/culture/chicago-chef-charlie-trotter-dead-54-109085](http://www.wbez.org/news/culture/chicago-chef-charlie-trotter-dead-54-109085) Very sad indeed. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/25 "2013-11-06T12:35:55Z")
I’ve edited the thread title. Very sad, and might well explain the odd behaviors. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/26 "2013-11-06T15:24:30Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I’m pretty certain the idea of him being “troubled” has been exaggerated. Hope you’re not a bettin’ man. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/27 "2013-11-06T15:38:12Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Hope you’re not a bettin’ man. You care to elaborate? I’m aware of most of the details of his career including the recent lawsuit over the bottle of Romanee Conti and his weird behavior with the student art show in his restaurant space. Is that what you are referring to or is there something else you are suggesting? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/28 "2013-11-07T03:42:46Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Larry Stone, who worked as Sommelier for Chef Trotter, has told the Chicago Tribune, Charlie was aware he had an inoperable brain aneurysm for several years. [http://www.wbez.org/news/culture/chicago-chef-charlie-trotter-dead-54-109085](http://www.wbez.org/news/culture/chicago-chef-charlie-trotter-dead-54-109085) > Very sad indeed. Yeah that could fit with changing behavior … speculatively he could have had some small strokes from small aneurysms rupturing which could have resulting in behavior changes and cogntive difficulties withe some understandable secondary psychologic dysfunction resultant as well.\* If his were considered inoperable then one _suspects_ he had multiple small ones, and had probably presented with a small stroke or severe headache from one of those small ones rupturing in the past. Very sad but his closing up shop fits with having gotten such a prognosis a few years back as well. \*Of course just knowing that you exist with the sword of Damocles not over but in your head might be enough to cause some mental health issues all by itself. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/29 "2013-11-07T14:02:03Z")
We had dinner last night with friends who knew him socially, she said she has suspected for some time that he was bipolar. For what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/30 "2013-11-07T14:35:30Z")
The autopsy yesterday was inconclusive but the police report does tend to back up the idea this may have been a stroke or something related to the health problems he had been experiencing. [The Chicago Tribune:](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-06/news/chi-charlie-trotter-autopsy-20131106_1_charlie-trotter-dona-lee-trotter-autopsy) > [@](#): > > The family told police that Trotter, 54, was taking medication for seizures, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He had flown to Jackson Hole, Wyo. against doctors’ orders to address a culinary conference Sunday night, according to the police reports. > > “He got on a plane this weekend and his son found him unresponsive this morning,” they stated. > > The son told police Trotter was on the couch, watching television, when he got home shortly before midnight Monday, according to the police report. The son said he woke the next day and saw his father still on the couch, unresponsive, the report said. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664/31 "2013-11-07T14:47:19Z")
Jet travel can aggravate heart or brain problems, can’t it, due to stress and changes in air pressure? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-trotter-wtf-edited-rip/667664.md?page=1)