Jennifer Gates pays tribute to Sylvia Weinstock after wedding cake designer dies just weeks after her big day
The daughter of newly-divorced billionaires Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates has shared an emotional tribute to celebrity chef Sylvia Weinstock.
The 'Queen of Cakes', as she's known, died just weeks after coming out of retirement to make a six-tier creation for Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar's wedding in October.
The 91-year-old baker died peacefully at her home in Tribeca, New York on November 22, 2021 "surrounded by her loving family", they announced on Tuesday.
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Jennifer shared photos of her meetings with Weinstock and images of the creation from design to the wedding day.
"Getting to know this incredible woman, pioneer and baking legend was the biggest blessing," Gates began in her caption.
"Sylvia, your zest for life, passion, creativity, and generosity will never be forgotten.
"We will be forever grateful for the gift you gave us in designing our dream wedding cake with @ladureeus. Rest In Peace."
The photo showed Gates along with wedding planner Marcy Blum and chef Jimmy Leclerc sitting around a table with Weinstock during what appeared to be a cake tasting.
Blum also took to social media to pay tribute, writing: "My dear friend @sylviaweinstock came out of retirement to design the beautiful cake for this beautiful couple."
Weinstock was something of a cake designer to the stars, having previously made creations for Oprah Winfrey, Sofia Vergara and Robert De Niro, among others.
She left full-time baking in 2016, aged 86, to instead focus on teaching the next generation of bakers.
The 91-year-old was described as "the cake designer who pioneered an industry of towering, sugar-flower wedding cakes" in a lengthy Instagram post announcing her passing.
"While Sylvia was known for her A-list clientele, everyone who ordered a cake got Sylvia's celebrity touch," the post said in part.
"Her work intersected the most intimate moments of her clients lives and she loved hearing their stories, never shy about doling out sage advice.
"She nurtured generations of adoring fans, and it was common for her to create celebration cakes for a couple, their children, and their children's children, for all the milestones of their lives.
"Cake, she often said, was more than food. It was the centerpiece of an event — and the last thing the guests would eat — so it had to be memorable."
The family will hold a private memorial at a future date.
