Alyce HOWELL

Ingrid Croce, born Ingrid Jacobson in Philadelphia in 1947, is an American author, singer-songwriter, and restaurateur. She began her career performing music with her husband, Jim Croce, releasing an album together in 1969. Following Jim Croce's tragic death in 1973, Ingrid continued to be involved in music, releasing solo albums and starting a publishing company. She also became a prominent figure in San Diego's restaurant industry, opening and managing several establishments, including Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar, which became a notable fixture in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Croce's contributions extend beyond music and dining. She has authored books, including an autobiographical cookbook and a photographic memoir of Jim Croce's work. She has also been active in community initiatives, such as launching San Diego Restaurant Week and serving as the vice-consul of Costa Rica in San Diego. Her life has been marked by significant personal events, including the early loss of her mother and a period of hardship following her husband's death. Ingrid Croce was inducted into the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in 2012.

Born Ingrid Jacobson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ingrid's early life was shaped by her Jewish family and diverse interests. She learned to cook and sing from her mother, Shirley, who hosted a local television show, and assisted her father, a physician, in his practice. Her childhood included experiences working in her grandmother's dress shop and navigating family changes after her parents' divorce. Music became a significant part of her life from a young age. By the age of 10, she was performing locally and on television. She later attended art colleges and traveled to Mexico on a fellowship to study painting and pottery. Her artistic inclinations also extended to writing, as she later penned a children's book titled Mirandome.

Ingrid met her future husband, Jim Croce, in 1963. They married in a Jewish ceremony and performed as a musical duo, releasing the album "Jim & Ingrid Croce" in 1969. Their decision to pursue music professionally intensified with the news of their son, Adrian James (A. J.), who was born in 1971. Tragically, Jim Croce died in a plane crash in 1973, shortly after achieving significant musical success. Following his death, Ingrid and A. J. spent time in Costa Rica before moving to San Diego. During this period, Ingrid established a Head Start program, opened a children's school, and continued her involvement in music. She later released two solo albums and founded the publishing company Time in a Bottle, though her singing career was impacted by vocal cord tumors requiring surgery.

In the mid-1980s, Ingrid Croce transitioned into the restaurant business in San Diego. She opened Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter, which became a popular establishment for many years. She later expanded her culinary ventures, including a move and renaming of the restaurant. Beyond her businesses, Croce was instrumental in revitalizing the Gaslamp Quarter and played a key role in establishing San Diego Restaurant Week, an event designed to promote the local dining scene. Her civic engagement also included serving as the vice-consul of Costa Rica in San Diego and sitting on various boards, including the Woman's Bank and the California Restaurant Association.