Who was Guy Fieri’s Father? All about the parents as Food Network vet mourns dad on Father’s Day

Guy Fieri remembered his dad, Jim Ferry, on Sunday, June 15, 2025, in an Instagram post.

The award-winning celebrity chef lost his father last year in January. On his second Father’s Day without his dad, Guy shared multiple pictures featuring Jim. Fieri wrote about being thankful for his family, friends, health, and adventures, and added,

“But the reason I have these blessings, these opportunities, is because of my DAD (and my mom).”

The Food Network presenter candidly wrote about missing his late father, as he added,

“I miss him more than I can explain. There’s a huge void in my life without him. I want to call him every day and ask him questions, have him help me solve problems or share fun stories of life and work.”

Guy Fieri admitted how he tries to emulate his father before wishing “Happy Father’s Day” to the dads out there,

“I strive to be that dad to my sons and try to teach them the values and respect that it takes to one day be a great dad. Happy Father’s Day to all those that lead by example and take care of their kids!!”

Jim Ferry, born Lewis James Ferry, passed away on January 27, 2024, in Santa Rosa, California. He was married to Penelope Anne, and together they had two children – Morgan and Guy Fieri (born Guy Ramsay Ferry). According to an obituary in the North Coast Journal (NCJ), two years after Fieri was born in Ohio, his parents moved to Ferndale, California.

Jim Ferry was a local businessman and received assistance from his wife, Penny. Guy Fieri opened up about his parents’ profession during a 2022 interview with Cheatsheet. The TV presenter revealed,

“My dad, Jim, was an entrepreneur and my mom, Penelope, was a homemaker who helped my dad. Soon after they settled in Ferndale, they opened Dave’s Saddlery—named for their partner Dave Clowse—where they sold the belts and candles they made.”

Apart from Dave’s Saddlery, the couple also started Abraxas Leather Shop, which they owned until 1978, per NCJ. Fieri's mother was also a guest star on many of the chef's shows like Guy: Hawaiian Style, Tournament of Champions, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and more.

Guy Fieri describes his parents as “hippies” who didn’t do drugs

Penny and Jim Ferry moved to Ferndale in 1970 and did business until 1996, per NCJ. While Penelope Anne was a teacher, she was initially denied a job at a kindergarten for being suspected as a hippie. In multiple interviews, Guy Fieri used the same word to describe his parents.

In a 2023 interview with Brooke Shields on her iHeart podcast, the Emmy-winning chef was asked about being raised by “hippies.” Fieri described how he spent his childhood in Ferndale. He continued,

“I was raised by these [hippies]. My mom and dad came from Columbus, Ohio. That's where I was born in the back of a Volkswagen Squareback bug. My mom was a teacher. My dad was a college dropout. And they came up here to Northern California, opened up a leather shop called the Abraxis. My mom had long red hair. My dad had a big beard. We had a Conaline van. This is no kidding.”

He briefly talked about his late sister Morgan, who passed away due to cancer. Guy Fieri mentioned a tattoo that reminded him of his sibling before he continued talking about his parents,

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"My parents were not dope smoking hippies, but self-made people. My dad had been in submarines during Vietnam and all kinds of craziness. So just listen, just really smart people, hardworking people. We ate a lot of macrobiotics.”

The celebrity chef also credited his parents for being progressive when it came to food. Fieri mentioned having sushi in 1976 when people “had no idea what sushi was.”

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