Remembering the Ritz

Alicia Robinson

A man with a reputation for perfectionism as well as generosity and

humor, restaurateur Hans Prager was mourned by hundreds of business

associates, employees and friends on Monday.

A native of Germany who began his career in the kitchen at age 17,

Prager worked for many years in the Newport Beach culinary community

and fulfilled his dream by building the Ritz Restaurant and Garden at

Fashion Island. He died Jan. 17, at age 74, shortly after a heart

attack and stroke.

A throng of more than 700 people came to a wake for Prager held at

the Four Seasons Hotel, and many of them walked the short distance to

the Ritz to share fond memories of its founder and proprietor over

drinks.

After leaving Nazi Germany with his family as a child, Prager

lived in Shanghai, China, before settling in America. After coming to

the West Coast, he managed Corona del Mar’s Five Crowns restaurant

and opened his own eateries in Irvine and Westminster before starting

the original Ritz restaurant at the Newport Pier in 1977.

At the wake, selections of Prager’s favorite music -- including

“My Way” and songs performed by his nephew and great-niece -- opened

and closed the ceremony, which featured Jewish readings and prayer, a

eulogy and personal reflections from those who knew Prager.

After the wake, guests lingered in the lobby to exchange hugs and

greetings and sign the guest book before heading to the Ritz.

Those who worked with Prager said he was a genuine person who

could be counted on.

“He was always one to go the extra mile and thank me and sincerely

appreciate what I did,” said Newport Beach photographer Michael

Munson, who took pictures at events at the Ritz as well as some of

the charity affairs with which Prager was involved.

Pianist Jay Milburn was working at the Four Seasons when he met

Prager.

“He told me if I ever needed a job to come to see him,” Milburn

said.

In 1992, Milburn took Prager up on the offer and ended up playing

at the Ritz for a while.

“He introduced me to his customers and treated me like part of the

family,” Milburn said.

Many people will remember Prager for his dynamic character, which

is what endeared him to developer Roger Torriero of Laguna Beach.

“He was an immense personality, and personally, I think this town

will be emptier without him,” Torriero said.

Torriero knew Prager for 26 years and helped him build the Ritz at

Fashion Island.

“In the course of all those years, we became like father and son,”

Torriero said. “I feel like a chapter in my life is closed.”

Moving from his successful though small Ritz restaurant at the

Newport Pier to the then-untried venue of Fashion Island was a big

risk for Prager, Torriero said.

But Prager was determined and hard working, and he was repaid with

success.

Torriero’s favorite story about Prager was how he reacted to

finding out that actor Carroll O’Connor wanted to open a restaurant

at Fashion Island.

When Prager was asked if he was worried about the competition,

Torriero said, “He said, ‘Do you think Carroll O’Connor will be at

the door every night?’ I said no. He said, ‘Well, I will be.’”

Longtime friend Bob Deemer, who delivered the eulogy at the wake,

said Prager lived life “very loudly.”

“He was just an individual that you wanted to be with, and if you

weren’t with him, you wanted to meet him so you could be with him,”

Deemer said.

Prager donated millions to charity over the years, and profits

were always second to providing service to his customers, Deemer

said.

The Ritz’s new owner kept all the employees Prager hired and

trained and will carry on Prager’s legacy, Deemer said.

Although Prager’s fine dining creation will continue, retired

restaurateur Jacqueline Buscary said it won’t be quite the same

without him.

“He’s the one who really made the Ritz,” she said. “The Ritz was

Hans Prager.”

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.