To quote Frank Zappa, “Great googly moogly!” What a life!
Richard J. “Chef Ricardo” Metzger of Bryan, born June 2, 1945, went home to spend Christmas with his beloved, late son Julian R. Metzger on Dec. 22, 2018 at the age of 73 after a well-fought battle with ALS.
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Metzger lived a dignified nomad’s life early on, traveling ‘everywhere he ever wanted to go’ in the spirit of the 1960’s, usually with a woman on his arm whom he was ‘madly in love with,’ finding work in fine dining establishments as a highly trained and supremely talented chef.
Metzger would come to work as ‘sous chef’ in charge of ‘garde manger’ at the White House and aboard the Presidential Yacht Sequoia under the Reagan and Carter administrations in addition to dozens of other high-quality establishments in his day.
It was Chef Ricardo’s great joy in life to cook for and entertain with his perpetually witty sense of humor those who were hungry…and also for those that didn’t yet know they had the room.
Williams County residents will remember his later stints at places like The Hunt Club, The Empire Cafe, Chef Ricardo’s Steakhouse and Julian’s, to name a few. Also an avid professional deep sea fisherman and long time resident of Charleston, South Carolina, Metzger was just at home on the water as he was on land.
Perhaps his fondest memory was stealing away with his late-in-life son, Julian, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 12, on an extended journey where they lived happily together at sea for a time.Metzger, a Navy veteran, was preceded in death by parents George and Dorothy Metzger of Akron and son Julian, who was born in Defiance.
He is survived by his former wife Jodi Houts, step-daughter Tara Houts, extended family and numerous friends from across the country and globe who will miss him dearly.
He also has two estranged siblings, a brother and sister, whose statuses are unknown at time of writing.
There are no memorial services planned, but per his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes scattered off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina as to join those of the son he loved with all his heart.