A Grand Forks Columnist Who Lit Up America with Chicken Alfredo Has Passed at 99

Marilyn Hagerty, the North Dakota newspaper columnist whose 2012 Eatbeat column on Olive Garden’s chicken Alfredo went viral and launched her into unexpected national fame, has died at the age of 99. Her death was confirmed by her daughter Gail Hagerty, who attributed it to complications from a stroke. Hagerty passed away at a hospital in Grand Forks, where she had lived for many years and remained an active local writer until recently.

Hagerty’s candid and heartfelt review of Olive Garden became a social media phenomenon. In the piece, she described the chain’s chicken Alfredo as “warm and comforting on a cold day,” capturing the attention of readers and critics alike. The article also noted the restaurant’s aesthetic features, such as the permanent flower displays and the fireplace that added a sense of warmth to the dining areas. This unique perspective, coming from a grandmotherly figure in a small North Dakota town, resonated with a wide audience and sparked an outpouring of national media coverage.

The unexpected popularity of her review brought Hagerty into the spotlight, a phenomenon she described as “unbelievable” during a 2014 interview with oral historian Teri Finneman. Hagerty received numerous emails, phone calls, and invitations for television interviews, culminating in a trip to New York City. She expressed surprise at the extent of the response, noting that she had written the column quickly and did not expect it to gain such widespread attention.

Her newfound fame even attracted the attention of renowned chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain, who publicly defended her on Twitter against critics who mocked her enthusiastic endorsement of Olive Garden’s offerings. Bourdain later collaborated with Hagerty, publishing a book of her columns and contributing a foreword. The media attention, while overwhelming, was a source of joy for Hagerty, who embraced the experience with characteristic enthusiasm.

Born on May 30, 1926, in Pierre, South Dakota, Hagerty began her journalism career during high school, assisting the editor of the Pierre Capital Journal and writing city briefs. She went on to earn a journalism degree from the University of South Dakota, a milestone she was proud of for life. For over seven decades, Hagerty remained an active writer, covering local events and maintaining a deep connection to her community. In 2002, a lift station in Grand Forks was named in her honor, a tribute to her long-standing contributions to the region.

Until recently, Hagerty continued to write at least occasionally for the Grand Forks Herald, a testament to her enduring passion for journalism. Her daughter expressed plans to pay tribute to her mother at the lift station, a small but meaningful gesture honoring a woman who found joy in the written word and in sharing the simple pleasures of everyday life with her readers.