Louis Germain

Louis Germain, 91, died Thursday, June16, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ. He was born November 3, 1925 in St. George, Switzerland. Louis was a renowned restaurateur in the Phoenix area for the last 56 years. He opened Chez Louis restaurant in 1958 on Brown Ave, Scottsdale. The restaurant was later relocated to the Scottsdale Civic Center. In the early 1990’s, Louis opened Sans Souci restaurant in Cave Creek, AZ.

Louis was trained as a pastry chef in Montana-Crans, Switzerland. From Switzerland, he traveled to Paris, London and Montreal. In 1953 he arrived in the U.S. where he lived in New York and Los Angeles. Louis worked at the iconic Perino’s in Los Angeles just prior to moving to Scottsdale, AZ. Throughout his career in Arizona, Louis frequently traveled back to the Ritz Hotel in Paris where he pursued his passion of continued education as a pastry chef.

It was on one of these trips to and from Paris that he met his current wife, Leokadia from Sweden. They married and with stepdaughter, Jennifer, moved to Cave Creek where Leokadia crafted her couture and helped Louis at Sans Souci.

Louis had a huge heart for animals as well as people. He always had several rescue dogs as beloved pets. He had a passion for Arabian horses which he bred and showed. He was an active member of the Arabian Horse Association in Scottsdale, AZ for many years. As a restaurateur, Louis was renowned for his customer service toward his patrons. His gracious, kind and attentive manner made his guests feel at home and part of his extended family. He is remembered for his generosity to people in need.

Louis is survived by his wife, Leokadia Germain of Sweden and daughters in law; brother-in-law Rene Nicolet of St. George, Switzerland; nieces: Suzanne Germain-Galatalo (God-daughter) and Roseline Berger-Germain of Switzerland; nephews: Daniel Nicolet, Francois Germain and Pierre Germain of Switzerland; Claude Nicolet of Lakeside, AZ; great nieces: Lucie Pereira Neto-Nicolet and Pauline Lugo-Nicolet of France, Cindy Berger and Delphine Salamone-Berger, of Switzerland; great-nephews: Fabrice Berger, Jonathan Germain, David Germain and Jerome Uldry, all of Switzerland; Christopher Nicolet and Timothy Nicolet of California; six great-nieces all of Switzerland; and business partner and caring friends, Jose and Norma Rivera with their family who continue to own and carry on Louis’ legacy of fine French dining at Sans Souci.

Louis was preceded in death by his mother, Evodie Germain-Badel, his father Gédéon Germain of St. George, Switzerland; his siblings: Georges Germain and sister-in-law, Janine Germain-Broillet, Willy Germain and Anna Nicolet-Germain all of Switzerland; and niece, (God-daughter), Brigitte Dumont-Germain, of Switzerland.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Arizona Humane Society (http://www.azhumane.org) or The Arabian Horseman's Distress Fund

(http://www.horsemensdistressfund.com).