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Max Mercier Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Max Mercier
Kara segalla
October 19, 2022
My husband and I were married 43 years ago on this day, Oct 19th. We ate our wedding dinner at Le Parisien. It was a perfect, romantic place to celebrate our special day. I still remember the decor and food that was excellent. Does anyone have photos of the restaurant to share? Thanks to Mr. Mercier for making our day so memorable.
Andrea Hansen
July 25, 2006
To the family,
Please forgive the tardiness of my note. I only found out this past weekend that Max had passed.
Max was a good friend to me. Whether we were boating on a lake, or having a sit down dinner in his home, he always made me feel welcome and comfortable.
I do not have enough words to express my sorrow of his passing.
I have too many words to express the joy, happiness, and love for life that he inspired me to have in my own life.
I will have him in my memories always, and will continue to live life with the joy that he inspired.
Condolences,
Andrea Hansen
Dennis Drake
July 21, 2006
To Max's family and friends,
I first met Max in 1968 - I was a Freshman at the U and he was running the tea room at Makoffs department store -- my friend Sherry Forester was a waitress and introduced us. The next time I saw Max was in the summer of 1970 as he was opening Le Parisian. I remember he built the booths, hung chain from the ceiling for the lights with simple upside down light shades, and filled the walls with his collection -- the infamous pot with the bottom burned out -- and his photo gallery of famous people when he first came to the US and worked at ViGoch in DC, a very famous restaurant where Jackie Kennedy and others frequented in the early 1960s. If memory serves me right, Max served in the French navy prior to coming to the US in about 1961 -- he told me stories of being 8 years old and lying on the grass in France and watching the Allied aerial bombardment during WWII. After working in DC, Max then moved to St Louis and visited SLC on a ski trip. He fell in love with Utah. After moving here in 1965 he opened Le Bistro on State Street next to Auerbachs department store, but SLC wasn't sophisticated enough yet for a high end DC style French restaurant. So, it closed and after being the chief at Willow Creek Country Club and then Makoffs, Max found the money and built Le Parisian on the cheap -- and what a gold mine. Not the money, but, more important, the memories. It became my handout for the next 15 years. It was the place for lunch, for dinner, for dessert, for just conversation. Le Parisian started with one room, then two, then the outside porch was enclosed. Max bought the building and put an upstairs club, named Le Bistro after his first restaurant. He started his own salad dressing business, bottling his famous Le Parisian dressing and selling it in supermarkets. No matter if you were happy or sad, a visit to Le Parisian and seeing Max changed your day. Then he sold the restaurant, and eventually they tore it down. We moved from SLC in 1988, and I returned on a visit to find a vacant lot where once was a place filled with magic. I could go on and on about my dear friend, but this story has a happy ending. I didn't see Max from 1988 until 2004 -- two years ago on a visit to SLC my son and I were driving through the avenues and we passed Max's house and, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw him on the sidewalk. I pulled the car over, got out and said, "Hey Max." "Denny!" he yelled -- we hugged each other -- I introduced him to my son --- and we all stood on the curb and talked for half an hour. He was getting ready for a trip to Vietnam -- and of course, he hadn't changed one bit in almost 20 years. I truly love that guy. Rest well my good friend.
Dennis Drake
Col (Ret)
Jean Gallagher
June 28, 2006
Good Bye Max. You gave me my first job in SLC. I loved the feeling of family and fun that we had at the restaurant. And the parties at your house were pretty good, too. Thank you.
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Brenda Barnes
June 27, 2006
Max,
You showed me love, shared laughter and memories and friendship together. I can still hear you laugh. I already miss you.
Brenda Barnes
Claudia Smith Amaral
June 26, 2006
Max
I am glad you found someone you could share your live with and have two wonderful sons. I know how much they will miss you. I will always have fond memories of you. Claudia
Sharon Silva Gramme
June 24, 2006
Dear Katie and Sacha and Fabrice,
I'm so terribly sorry to hear that Max has passed on, some people are suppose to live forever, and I felt Max was one of them. We had such wonderful times together at home and in France when we suprised you on your birthday, remember Katie? You were on the beach. My love and very best wishes are with you
Carol Terrell Jones
June 23, 2006
Thank you, Max. My late husband, Jim Jones, spent out first date at
La Parisian. We enjoyed the food,
and the company. We spent many
anniversaries at La Parisian. We
even had Mac signed the menu a few
times.
We spent many evenings after
concerts and other events that
took us downtown at La Parisian.
I'm sure that Max is looking sown
on us and is smiling.
JWe will miss you!
THANKS for the memories!!!
Bill Brass
June 22, 2006
Max,
Thanks for your friendship. You were always a warm and friendly person. your home was a place of laughter, wine and fine food. You and Katie made me feel very welcome when I first moved to Salt Lake. I fell in love with my wife at a dinner party at your home. I will always think of you with that wonderful smile. Katie, Sacha, and Fabrice, Max touched many lives in many ways, he will be greatly missed!
Beau Chaine'
June 21, 2006
I took my mom for her birthday party to Le Bistro in the late 60's, with money from my first part time job while a freshman in high school. We spoke french as you made her suzettes and flirted with her. Your call the next day was: Do you have black pants? Yes. Black shoes? Yes. Black socks? Yes. White shirt? Yes. Bow tie? No...Then I will see you here at four! Off and on for the next two decades, you taught me to admire french cooking, and gave our white gloved waiters a standing ovation at Les Amis D'Escoffier in '80 at the old Hilton. Your perfect introduction of true french and italian cuisine into this valley, and creation of the Beehive Chef's Association, changed this state forever and flared the tastes of Europe in our faces, leaving us longing for more! You were truly the only true Le Parisien. I still can't find your original vinaigrette, damn it! Such an old frenchman never passes away, he just climbs the Eiffel Tower, jumps with his paraglider, and voila...off to paradise! Merci Max, pour la joie de vivre...You will always be my protecting brother... ton ami...Beau Chaine'
Max, you were my first culinary mentor!
Beau Chaine'
June 21, 2006
Elaine DeLand
June 21, 2006
Max was such a wonderful friend and meant the world to me. I will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with him.
Marilyn & Fred Mauerman
June 21, 2006
We are so sorry to hear of the death of Max. We remember him from the restraunt. My husband proposed to me there with Max looking on. After the restraunt closed, we felt like we had lost a dear friend. We celebrated many anniversaries there. Thank you Max for all the great memories. We will miss you.
Monique Dock
June 21, 2006
I am so sorry to hear about Max's passing. My husband Robert Dock and his family were friend's of Max, Roger & Simonne Dock. We ate at Max's quite a bit, & thought the food was wonderful. We moved to Phoenix 11 years ago, but visit Salt Lake frequently, we were sad when we saw that the restaurant was no longer there. Again we are so sorry to hear about Max.
Stephen (Scotty) & Pam Burns
June 21, 2006
We are sorry to here of the loss of a dear friend, and person. Our prayers are with you
Valerie
June 21, 2006
Fabrice & Sacha, you'll always be in my thoughts & prayers.
You both meant the world to your father and it was such a pleasure to watch him light up, every time you were around. Your father will be greatly missed and touched the lives of so many people.
I will miss him dearly.
Love always,
Valerie
Glenn & Betty Willoughby
June 21, 2006
One of your many customers. We ate at the restaurant in SLC & it was one of the most memorable experiences we had.
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