14 lagunabeachindy . com MARCH 15 , 2024
GUEST OPINION : DEAR SUSI Q
The Delight of Learning New Things , No Matter Our Age
By LyNeTTe BRAsFIeLD
OBITUARY :
Marcel Pitz : Owner of Dizz ’ s As Is Restaurant
It is with heavy hearts that the Pitz , McConnell and O ’ Keefe families announce the passing of Marcel Pitz , cherished father , grandfather , great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather .
Marcel was born on April 1 , 1937 , in Belgium and peacefully departed on March 3 , 2024 , at the age of 86 , in Laguna Beach , Calif . He leaves behind his daughters Line O ’ Keefe and Chantale McConnell and son Dominic Pitz , all of Laguna Beach . He was preceded in passing by his wife , Monique , and his son , Marc Pitz .
Marcel is fondly remembered by his grandchildren ; Michael , Adrian , Nicholas , Nathan , Nolan , Taylor , Makenna , Mason , Anika , Mia and Karina as well as his great-grandchildren Victoria , Valerie , McKayla , Harper and Charlotte , and yes , one great-great-granddaughter Gigi , Additionally , he is survived by several nieces , nephews and other family members across United States , Canada and Europe .
Marcel ’ s culinary journey began at the Liege Culinary School in Belgium . Marcel immigrated to Montreal , Canada , in 1957 , where he met the love of his life , Monique Verpaelst . They had two daughters and one on the way when they moved to Laguna Beach in 1964 for the incredible
Contrary to what Sherlock Holmes told Dr . Watson in “ The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone ,” “ I am a brain , Watson . The rest of me is a mere appendix ,” Kristen Maahs-Kohlberg , Associate Director of the Community Outreach team at Alzheimer ’ s Orange County , notes that the food we consume makes a major difference to our mental health .
Her upcoming presentation , Brain
weather after visiting Marcel ’ s parents there on a vacation . Marcel started his culinary profession in Laguna at Victor Hugo ’ s as a sous chef and then opened Dizz ’ s As Is Restaurant in Laguna Beach . They transformed the establishment into a beloved landmark for the last 40 years , serving exquisite continental cuisine in a charming 1920s cottage . He inherited his passion for the culinary arts from his father Richard Pitz , an esteemed pastry chef in Belgium . Instead of following in his father ’ s footsteps as a pastry chef , he decided he didn ’ t want to wake up at 2 a . m . to start baking bread . Instead , his saucier expertise led to Dizz ’ s success , where he crafted unforgettable sauces that became synonymous with Dizz ’ s legacy . Dizz ’ s stands as the oldest continuously operated restaurant in Laguna Beach , maybe even Orange County , under the same ownership , a testament to Marcel ’ s dedication and culinary prowess .
When Marcel wasn ’ t working hard , he also enjoyed the great outdoors . He loved camping , backpacking , fishing , hunting and skiing with friends and family . He was one with nature and could get himself out of any predicament , no matter how lost he may have been . He was a true adventurer . In addition , he loved sports , especially “ futbol ,” also known as soccer , which he loved playing , coaching , refereeing , watching , but most of all yelling at the refs because we know how many bad calls they made . Marcel actually started the AYSO program in Laguna Beach with a few other futbol enthusiasts .
Being born on April Fool ’ s Day made him the jokester he was . he was always playing jokes and laughing all the time right up until the end with his little wink to me . Marcel will truly be missed by all . A celebration of life will be held March 17 at 2 p . m . at Victoria Beach , with Dizz ’ s to follow .
PAID ANNOUNCEMENT
Food : Nutrition for a Healthier Mind , to be held on March 20 at the Susi Q , focuses only on the edible . But of course , it ’ s also important to feed fresh information to our little grey cells . Sherlock had a point .
It ’ s amazing the new things that we learn even into our sixties and beyond . Oh , and the things we have to unlearn .
For example , I was conned by books I read in kindergarten into thinking that when the sun went down , birds snuggled down into their nests for a good night ’ s sleep , waking in the morning to a brand-new day – and , if they were up early enough , enjoyed the pleasures of nice juicy worms .
Come to find out – only in the last few weeks ! – that no , the only time birds sleep in nests is when they sit on their eggs or keep their chicks warm . At night , they sleep in trees or bushes or wherever they feel safest .
Maybe – in fact , I ’ m pretty sure – most of you already knew that ! I ’ m ashamed to admit that I really didn ’ t . Maybe you have some similar experiences , though ?
I mean , did you know that the Great Wall of China isn ’ t visible from space ? That St . Patrick was born in Scotland , not Ireland ?
I ’ m not embarrassed that I didn ’ t know why the Michelin Guide is called the Michelin Guide , but I do wonder why I hadn ’ t been puzzled before – after all , the Michelin logo , literally a roly-poly figure with several spare tires , hardly reflects the image of a fine diner .
According to the Michelin website , it all started in 1889 when brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin founded their world-famous tire company . To help motorists develop their trips - thereby boosting car and tire sales - the brothers produced a small red guide filled with handy information for travelers , such as maps , information on how to change a tire , and where to fill up with fuel .
Eventually , that morphed into a guidebook for the finest restaurants and their star rating system . Who knew ? I didn ’ t . And here ’ s a fact that really stunned me . This , from 23andMe : Researchers identified one genetic marker associated with feeling rage at the sound of other people chewing . Your genetic variants at this marker are associated with about average odds of having this trait .
I have it , all right . Of course , it depends on who is chewing and what they ’ re chewing . But how amazing that such a tendency is genetically predictable .
Regardless – eat those blueberries , devour that salmon , and crunch those nuts ( just when I ’ m not around ). And remember , you don ’ t have to read an encyclopedia to learn new facts and stimulate those synapses . Instead , I strongly recommend joining book , bridge , and mahjong clubs and discussion groups – there are a number of opportunities at the Susi Q to keep your brain active and nourished . Just check out the programs and classes by visiting www . thesusiq . org . See you at the Susi Q !
GUEST OPINION :
Vote for Joanna Weiss for Congress
By COTTIe PeTRIe-NORRIs , KATRINA FOLey , AsHLeIGH AITKeN AND sue KeMPF she believes in the promise of Orange County .
Throughout her career , Joanna served her community with pro bono work , fighting for seniors , students with special needs , and survivors of domestic violence . She also taught our next generation at Chapman University School of Law . Joanna founded Women for American Values and Ethics ( WAVE ), a nonprofit organization that organizes residents on both sides of the aisle around our most critical issues : reproductive rights , voting rights , protecting democracy , and climate change . Joanna Weiss ’ s leadership in our community and her legal career led to her receiving several awards and recognitions , including the Anti-Defamation League ’ s Marcus
Whether you serve in Congress , the State Legislature , on the Board of Supervisors , or in local office , serving as an elected official requires a deep level of collaboration , trustworthiness , reliability , and an understanding of our community ’ s needs . That ’ s why we endorse and plan to vote for Joanna Weiss to represent us in Congress on Tuesday .
Born and raised in Orange County , Joanna graduated from UCLA and USC School of Law , where she was an editor of the Southern California Law Review . After law school , Joanna and her husband of 25 years chose to make their family ’ s home right here because WEISS , PAGE 18