Blue Fin matriarch Betsy Mae Quan Toy Yee passes away at 91

Downtown Phoenix lost one of its culinary icons this month with the passing of Betsy Mae Quan Toy Yee, beloved owner of Blue Fin. The restaurant announced she died Oct. 18 at age 91.

Known for greeting every guest like family, Betsy presided over the Japanese comfort-food spot for nearly three decades, keeping it steady through downtown’s transformation and even saving it from demolition during light-rail construction.

Born in 1934 to one of Phoenix’s pioneering Chinese families, Betsy’s life was marked by courage, creativity, and connection – from teaching abroad to her Paris wedding and, eventually, a downtown restaurant that became a sanctuary for regulars.

She was known for her generosity, her Cadillac, and her flair for turning every meal into a celebration.

Her daughter Lyn Yee, who’s managed Blue Fin since 2020, plans to keep the restaurant open, ensuring her mother’s warmth and legacy live on near the southeast corner of Central and McDowell.