Joseph “Jeff” F. Spiegel ’68
Joseph “Jeff” F. Spiegel ’68 passed away embraced by his family at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 20. An Albuquerque native, he returned to the area 16 years ago with wife Katie; together they created four wildly popular M’tucci’s restaurants. Jeff was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2018 and was told that he might live only six months. After researching treatment options nationwide, he entered a clinical trial at MD Anderson with follow-up care in Houston and Albuquerque. With the help of massive amounts of local red chili and an extraordinary fighting spirit, he lived with the disease for six more years. During that time, he traveled the world with Katie, made new friends, opened more restaurants, cofounded a company that builds sustainable homes, attended two of his children’s weddings, witnessed a third child’s engagement, and welcomed his granddaughter. Jeff was born and raised in New Mexico and came to Dartmouth from Phillips Exeter Academy. At Dartmouth he was a member of Chi Phi. Following graduation he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru, where he helped a jungle tribe develop schools and win government recognition. Returning to Boston, Jeff spent four years in the office of Mayor Kevin White. In 1982, after working as a healthcare consultant in New York, Jeff changed careers. He and Katie spent 23 years operating 11 Manhattan restaurants. Jeff is survived by Katie; children Ben, Jesse, and Suzanne; son-in-law Evan; daughters-in-law Megan and Laurie; and brother Arthur.
