MOURNING, THEN LAUGHTER
But there have been trying times, too, including the recent death of Jamie Gillis, her boyfriend of almost eight years. Gillis was a 1970s adult film acting legend, who counted as friends the likes of New Yorker writer Calvin Trillin and the prominent geneticist and discoverer of DNA James Watson. Gillis died of cancer in February of 2010. Then last February to the dismay of her fans, Zarela closed her restaurant. Though she still caters private events, teaches, and does public speaking, longtime patrons miss the restaurant.
