Obituary for Antoine "Tony" Romero
It is with great sadness that the family of Antoine “Tony” Romero, 90, of Lunenburg announces his passing on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at the South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater.
Born on July 17, 1929 in Villeurbanne, Lyon, France to Spanish parents, Antoine and Catalina (Julia) Romero whom had immigrated to France, Tony attended public school there before returning to Barcelona Spain at age 11 and on to Palma de Mallorca where he continued his education. At about age 14, Tony began working in the family hotel business already speaking two languages fluently, Spanish and French.
Tony, at age 19 returned to France and joined the French Foreign Legion doing his initial military training at Sidi Bell Abess in Algeria, North Africa, the Headquarters of the Foreign Legion. Upon completion of this training, he was transferred to Indo China for the duration of the French involvement in the Indo China War, now known as Vietnam. During these five years, Tony had under his command twenty-two cooks and fed an average of 1,500 soldiers per day, four meals a day, holidays being special preparations comparable to meals served in high class restaurants. After being recalled from a journey that would have ended in Dien Bien Fu when France pulled out of the war, Tony completed his enlistment with the Foreign Legion at Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.
Upon his discharge on the 19 November, 1956, Tony returned to Lyon, France and found employment at Brasserie Du North, then a very reputable 4-Star restaurant. He worked for a season in Avignon, after which time he went to Marseille where he was employed by Societe Hoteliere Lavitaillement Maritime (S.H.R.M.) and was sent to Assie Mesahoud, Algeria, North Africa to manage a restaurant which catered to company employees of the following oil companies-Shell, Forenco, Ultramar, Fina. Under the same employers, known as Herberma, Tony was transferred to Mauritania to install and manage hotels for Mineral Mauritanie (M.I.F.E.R.M.A.)- (Mine/Steel/Mauritania). Tony had 16 cooks in his service, catering to 700 employees, 3 meals a day. He also managed the Cafeteria and the Club (swimming pool, tennis, bar, etc.) Also under his direction were an average of 30 Native helpers. Among Tony’s managerial duties were men planning, bar purchasing, ordering, receiving, shipping, discipline, staff morale, and arranging social events for company employees. In 1964, Tony returned to France, operating his own restaurant, Chez Antoine, under a purchase/lease agreement and remained there until 1969 when he immigrate to Canada sponsored by Monsieur Jean Lalanne, restaurant Chez Jean at Park Victoria, Halifax). After spending two years at Chez Jean, Tony began his own restaurant L’Hermitage at Somerset Place, Halifax, owning and operating same for the next three years. He was also employed with the Lord Nelson, Holiday Inn and various other restaurants and hotels in Halifax.
In October, 1980, Tony was hired by Mr. John Maloney of Fisheries Resource Development in the position of Development Chef with the mandate to develop proto type frozen entrees for National Sea Products. Fisheries Resource Development Limited was at that time a National Sea Products subsidiary company.
Mr. Kevin Flanagan was subsequently hired by F.R.D. and became Tony’s immediate superior. Under Mr. Flanagan’s expertise guidance and management, tony worked diligently for the benefit of National Sea Products. Mr. Flanagan having the final decision and last word in all matters pertaining to the finished product.
Tony worked for some of the best Chefs in France being trained in the traditional style of French cuisine absorbing his knowledge from those he worked with, and this, along with his natural and enormous talent for food preparation constitutes his formal life-long training in the culinary arts and restaurant management. In addition to the two languages into which tony was born, Spanish and French, he also speaks fluent English after living in Canada for some 23 years and acquired an understanding of Italian with some speaking abilities of same.
Tony recreation during his teenage years was long distance cycling, entering competitions; his best speed being 70 kilometers in three hours over mountainous roads and he enjoyed music, dancing and travelling.
Tony is survived by his partner of 37 years, Myrna Corkum, his daughter, Sophie Romero, Toulon, France; his son, Antoine Romero (Marie-Josee Roy), Quebec City, grand-daughter, Siegrid Romero, three great-grandchildren; step-son, Craig (Anne) Corkum, Lunenburg; and their children, Quinn and Logan.
Tony is also survived by his brothers, Gabriel Romero and his wife, Francisca Bernnasar and their children, Gabriel Romero, Catalina Romero, and Carlos Romero; Carlos Romero and his wife, Mari Gonzalez and their children, Carolina Romero-Gonzalez and Oscar Romero-Gonzalez; Jamie Romero and his wife Lise Boivin and their daughter Alexandra Romero; Alejandro Romero and his wife Luisa Zarallo and their children, Gema Romero and Alejandro Romero; sister, Margarita Romero and her son, Daniel Romero and his wife and children.
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home, 11213 Hwy. # 3, Lunenburg. At Tony’s request, cremation has taken place and there will be no memorial service.
Memorial donations in Tony’s memory may be made to the Lunenburg Food Bank.
www.sweenyfuneralhome.ca
Born on July 17, 1929 in Villeurbanne, Lyon, France to Spanish parents, Antoine and Catalina (Julia) Romero whom had immigrated to France, Tony attended public school there before returning to Barcelona Spain at age 11 and on to Palma de Mallorca where he continued his education. At about age 14, Tony began working in the family hotel business already speaking two languages fluently, Spanish and French.
Tony, at age 19 returned to France and joined the French Foreign Legion doing his initial military training at Sidi Bell Abess in Algeria, North Africa, the Headquarters of the Foreign Legion. Upon completion of this training, he was transferred to Indo China for the duration of the French involvement in the Indo China War, now known as Vietnam. During these five years, Tony had under his command twenty-two cooks and fed an average of 1,500 soldiers per day, four meals a day, holidays being special preparations comparable to meals served in high class restaurants. After being recalled from a journey that would have ended in Dien Bien Fu when France pulled out of the war, Tony completed his enlistment with the Foreign Legion at Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.
Upon his discharge on the 19 November, 1956, Tony returned to Lyon, France and found employment at Brasserie Du North, then a very reputable 4-Star restaurant. He worked for a season in Avignon, after which time he went to Marseille where he was employed by Societe Hoteliere Lavitaillement Maritime (S.H.R.M.) and was sent to Assie Mesahoud, Algeria, North Africa to manage a restaurant which catered to company employees of the following oil companies-Shell, Forenco, Ultramar, Fina. Under the same employers, known as Herberma, Tony was transferred to Mauritania to install and manage hotels for Mineral Mauritanie (M.I.F.E.R.M.A.)- (Mine/Steel/Mauritania). Tony had 16 cooks in his service, catering to 700 employees, 3 meals a day. He also managed the Cafeteria and the Club (swimming pool, tennis, bar, etc.) Also under his direction were an average of 30 Native helpers. Among Tony’s managerial duties were men planning, bar purchasing, ordering, receiving, shipping, discipline, staff morale, and arranging social events for company employees. In 1964, Tony returned to France, operating his own restaurant, Chez Antoine, under a purchase/lease agreement and remained there until 1969 when he immigrate to Canada sponsored by Monsieur Jean Lalanne, restaurant Chez Jean at Park Victoria, Halifax). After spending two years at Chez Jean, Tony began his own restaurant L’Hermitage at Somerset Place, Halifax, owning and operating same for the next three years. He was also employed with the Lord Nelson, Holiday Inn and various other restaurants and hotels in Halifax.
In October, 1980, Tony was hired by Mr. John Maloney of Fisheries Resource Development in the position of Development Chef with the mandate to develop proto type frozen entrees for National Sea Products. Fisheries Resource Development Limited was at that time a National Sea Products subsidiary company.
Mr. Kevin Flanagan was subsequently hired by F.R.D. and became Tony’s immediate superior. Under Mr. Flanagan’s expertise guidance and management, tony worked diligently for the benefit of National Sea Products. Mr. Flanagan having the final decision and last word in all matters pertaining to the finished product.
Tony worked for some of the best Chefs in France being trained in the traditional style of French cuisine absorbing his knowledge from those he worked with, and this, along with his natural and enormous talent for food preparation constitutes his formal life-long training in the culinary arts and restaurant management. In addition to the two languages into which tony was born, Spanish and French, he also speaks fluent English after living in Canada for some 23 years and acquired an understanding of Italian with some speaking abilities of same.
Tony recreation during his teenage years was long distance cycling, entering competitions; his best speed being 70 kilometers in three hours over mountainous roads and he enjoyed music, dancing and travelling.
Tony is survived by his partner of 37 years, Myrna Corkum, his daughter, Sophie Romero, Toulon, France; his son, Antoine Romero (Marie-Josee Roy), Quebec City, grand-daughter, Siegrid Romero, three great-grandchildren; step-son, Craig (Anne) Corkum, Lunenburg; and their children, Quinn and Logan.
Tony is also survived by his brothers, Gabriel Romero and his wife, Francisca Bernnasar and their children, Gabriel Romero, Catalina Romero, and Carlos Romero; Carlos Romero and his wife, Mari Gonzalez and their children, Carolina Romero-Gonzalez and Oscar Romero-Gonzalez; Jamie Romero and his wife Lise Boivin and their daughter Alexandra Romero; Alejandro Romero and his wife Luisa Zarallo and their children, Gema Romero and Alejandro Romero; sister, Margarita Romero and her son, Daniel Romero and his wife and children.
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home, 11213 Hwy. # 3, Lunenburg. At Tony’s request, cremation has taken place and there will be no memorial service.
Memorial donations in Tony’s memory may be made to the Lunenburg Food Bank.
www.sweenyfuneralhome.ca