Starkey A. Vaeni

K. Starkey Arthur Vaeni, 81, of 22 Holly Street, Concord, New Hampshire, died Tuesday at the Elliot Hospital, Manchester, N.H., of respiratory failure after a brief illness. He was born in Newport, N.H., the son of Arthur and Mary Vaeni. He had lived in Concord for the past 65 years. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II in Africa and Europe and as a cooking instructor for the WACS in Iowa. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5245 in North Haverhill, N.H. He was a chef and restaurant owner who learned his art at Nardini's Restaurant in Concord. In 1957 he and his wife Marge opened the Endicott Grille in Concord. ''The Grille'' was considered one of the best and most popular dining establishments in the area until they closed it in 1976. Starkey and Marge later bought and operated the Horsehoe Restaurant in Hopkinton for five years, until he retired. Much of his family and social life revolved around food and cooking. For several summers in the late 1950's he was the head chef at Camp Sentinel Lodge in Moultonboro, where he also played the Indian chief to the delight of the campers at the camp fire circle. He enjoyed holding family reunions and holiday parties at the Endicott Grille, where he socialized with his relatives while preparing and serving gourmet dishes to everyone's delight. He loved the outdoors and especially gardening. His rock garden was recognized for its color and beauty in an article in the Concord Monitor. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Betty Kulesza. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Marjorie (Marge) Spooner Vaeni, two sons, Arthur Vaeni of Plymouth, and Edwin Vaeni of Princeton, MA, sister, Kiratsa Tarullo of Newport, and four grandchildren, Kara-Lynn Vaeni of Boston, MA, Jeremy Vaeni of New York City, NY, Annemarie and Brian Vaeni both of Concord and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service, officiated by the Reverends Edwin and Arthur Vaeni, will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Alzheimer's Association Development Division, 919 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-1676. The Cremation Society is in charge of arrangements