Alice Brock, an artist, author, and former restaurant owner, died on November 21, 2024, at 83 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. She was best known as the inspiration for Arlo Guthrie’s famous 1967 antiwar song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.”
Her death came just a week before Thanksgiving, which is closely linked to the song’s story.
A Life That Inspired a Cultural Phenomenon
Alice May Pelkey was born on February 28, 1941, in New York City. She attended Sarah Lawrence College but dropped out. She later married Ray Brock and moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where they bought and fixed up an old church that became important to the story behind “Alice’s Restaurant.”
In 1965, Alice invited Guthrie and his friend Rick Robbins to a Thanksgiving dinner at the church. The next day, they tried to get rid of trash from the dinner but ended up getting arrested for littering when they couldn’t find an open dump.
This simple incident became the foundation for Guthrie’s 18-minute song, which humorously critiques red tape and shifts to a powerful antiwar message. The song became a classic and is now a regular feature on radio stations during Thanksgiving.
Alice’s Restaurant: A Journey Through Food and Fame
Alice opened her first restaurant, The Back Room, in Stockbridge in 1965. She admitted she didn’t love cooking or running a business, but her restaurants became favorite community spots. Over the years, she ran three restaurants: The Back Room, Take-Out Alice, and Alice’s at Avaloch. Despite her restaurant success, she faced issues with public attention and personal struggles.
In 1979, Alice closed her last restaurant and moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts. There, she focused on painting and lived a quieter life away from fame.
Besides running restaurants, Alice was also an artist and an author. She wrote a memoir called “My Life as a Restaurant” and worked with Guthrie on a children’s book titled “Mooses Come Walking.” Her art reflected her lively personality.
Legacy and Tributes
Arlo Guthrie honored his friend on social media after her death. He wrote that this Thanksgiving would be the first without her. He remembered their friendship of 60 years and described Alice as “a no-nonsense gal with a great sense of humor.”
The church where they had their famous Thanksgiving gathering is now called The Guthrie Center, a nonprofit community space focused on social justice—a reminder of their shared history.
Cause of Death
Alice Brock died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while receiving hospice care. She is survived by her stepchildren Becca, Jono, and Fletcher Brock; two grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and two great-great-grandchildren.