Dante Boccuzzi is a Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, and proud Parma native who returned to Cleveland after building an international culinary career. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Dante worked in top kitchens across the globe, earning acclaim and accolades, including a Michelin Star and multiple James Beard nominations.

But his most defining moment didn’t happen in a kitchen.

In 2009, just as he was launching his namesake restaurant Dante in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, Dante was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. With four young children and a dream still unfolding, he underwent the grueling process of cancer treatment, all while continuing to build what would become one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognized restaurant groups. Today, Dante is cancer-free.

Dante credits his family for carrying him through the hardest moments. Today, he’s not just a chef. He’s a survivor, a father of four, and a believer in the power of resilience. Through his story, Dante hopes to inspire others facing life’s toughest challenges and raise funds for those still in the fight.

We are proud to have Dante as this year’s Greater Cleveland Golf Classic Honoree. Funds raised through the mission paddle raise at the Greater Cleveland Golf Classic go to support the Tri-State Research Fund, which seeks to ensure that no ACS-approved cancer research project in Ohio, West Virginia, or Northern Kentucky goes unfunded. Your donations in honor of Dante will directly support this initiative, helping to fund critical research and advance health equity in cancer care.

Support the Tri-State Research Fund, the Greater Cleveland Golf Classic, and Dante’s legacy by making a gift today! Your gift empowers the American Cancer Society to achieve its mission of ending cancer as we know it for everyone.