Eugene MUELLER

MUELLER, Eugene

94, of Venice, FL, peacefully passed away in his home Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 surrounded by his family. He was born on Nov. 3, 1920 in Zurich, Switzerland. He began an apprenticeship to be a chef in Zurich when he was 15. He worked in restaurants and the Bern Palace Hotel until 1939 when he joined the Swiss Army for WWII. He left Switzerland right after the war ended and went to Argentina to work in a palace hotel in Buenos Aires. He also spent time in Puerto Rico and Iowa before coming to Florida in 1950.

He settled into St. Petersburg where he owned The Cameo Room restaurant located in the Edward James Hotel. In 1965, he opened Gene's Lobster House in Madeira Beach, which became a very successful and nationally recognized restaurant. He owned and operated Gene's Lobster House until he sold the restaurant and retired in 1980. In the 1970s, he competed in the MORC division of offshore sailboat racing with his boat the Scipio. He and his crew won the first MORC Match Racing Championship for the Commodore's Challenge Cup in 1974, among many other victories. In addition to his love of sailing, he loved God, fine food, fine art, listening to classical music, the beach, and most of all his family. He was a fabulous chef and amazing to watch in the kitchen. He would rival any chef featured on television today. He spoke five languages and was truly a Renaissance man.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 45 years, Heidy; five children, Reto Mueller (Michelle), Susanne Mueller, Heidi Colbeck (Randy), Maya Lockwood (David), and Lisa Mueller; and ten grandchildren, Andrew Wilson; Sean and Wyatt Menendez; Mina, Renzo, Maxim, and Marzia Mueller; Bryn Wolfe, Hannah and Zachary Lockwood. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Nativity Catholic Church, Tampa Bay Watch, or Tidewell Hospice.