Buzz Beler, founder and co-owner of the Prime Rib Restaurants in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., died October 23 in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he had recently relocated to be near family and his beloved horses. He was 90.
After graduating from the University of Virginia, where he was a proud member of the equestrian community, Buzz served in the Army, earned a juris doctorate from the University of Maryland, and briefly practiced law in the Baltimore area before embarking on a career in the restaurant business.
In 1965, Buzz and his late brother C. Nicholas ("Nick") Beler, sons of restaurateurs Cleo Hariklea ("Hattie") Beler and Peter Beler, co-founded The Prime Rib in Baltimore, which they modeled after a popular Manhattan restaurant. After much success in Baltimore, the brothers opened the Washington, D.C., restaurant in 1976.
While most of Buzz's time was spent in his restaurants, he was an avid golfer and enjoyed horseracing. He was an active member of Burning Tree Club in Bethesda, Maryland, and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Buzz will be remembered as a gracious and generous gentleman, who will be missed by the countless friends he made through his business endeavors and his family.
Buzz is survived by a son, Peter Hill Beler, of Northern Virginia. In accordance with his wishes, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
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over the years enjoyed your horse racing talk i think it was ur horse brother nick making his first start being loaded into starting gate broke thru was reloaded and won anyway
stanley marcinkowski
Friend
January 9, 2020
Always enjoyed going to the prime-rib restaurants in DC & Baltimore MD first class place
Mark Hannah
Mark Hannah
November 10, 2019
Buzz was a legend in our restaurant world with manny many friends. He stood for integrity and quality that set the gold standard for gracious and exquisite fine dining.......(with a respectful dress code!). Whether I was on the golf course with him, or standing at his classic bar at the Prime Rib with our favorite on the rocks, I was always blessed to be with him and call him my friend. I will miss Buzz!
Davis Sezna
November 3, 2019
My deepest sympathy to the family of Buzz . I spent many wonderful evenings at both Baltimore & K St location of the Prime Rib . He was always so welcoming & made everyone feel special . One of a kind. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Sincerely
LaShea
LaShea Green
November 2, 2019
Ramon Ballve
Friend
November 2, 2019
I am very sad to know that you are no longer with us,dear Buzz. You were always so nice and thoughtful when I would see you at The Rib. I will miss you.
Nesha Khargie
November 1, 2019
R.I.P.'Buzz'!!! ...and Sincere Condolences to his Family & Friends! Truly the end of a special era of fine dining in this area with the passing of this gentleman. I worked for Buzz & his brother, Nick, at the Tom Jones Restaurant in the early 70's.
Long live the Prime Rib!
Shawn Lynch
November 1, 2019
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Buzz's son Peter and his entire family, as well as the staff at the Prime Rib who worked with him for many years. We had many special celebrations at the Prime Rib and we will always cherish the memories. He will never be forgotten.
Ted and Lea Pedas
Friend
October 30, 2019
My name is Laurence Britt & I met buzz through my father Dick Britt back in 1976. It was the summer and I was looking for work and my father and Buzz were good friends so Buzz gave me a job at the Prime Rib. I was there to help clean up from the night before & I was helping a guy who had been doing this many years by himself so it was obvious that Buzz was being very generous to me and helping me out for the summer. I must say that he was one of the nicest bosses that I ever had. Buzz even caught me Sleeping one morning and tapped me on the shoulder and said, have a rough night? I learned a lot from Buzz, not only from restaurants but with the horses he helped my father with, when he started horse racing. So my sincere sympathies go out to his family.
The Britt family.
Laurence Britt
October 29, 2019
Buzz created an institution that was our go-to place in Washington for 40 years. He kept the standards high. He was kind and gentle and always with a smile. He was always present. How he managed to always be at three restaurants is a mystery but he was always there.
Our deepest sympathies go out to his family. May you carry on the legacy of a great man.
Ellen Berman
October 29, 2019
My deepest sympathy to the family of Constantine Beler. May you be comforted in knowing that our Heavenly Father cares for you. He will give you strength and courage to cope with your grief. Psalm 94:17-19
N. S.
October 28, 2019
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