“We are honored to remember longtime SCENE Magazine friend, Titus Letschert, co-owner of one of the finest Sarasota dining establishments, Café L’Europe on St. Armands Circle, and all-around great guy. For more than 37 years, Titus was a mainstay on Sarasota’s restaurant scene, always admired for his talents, easy smile and big heart.” – Ron Milton, Publisher
Remembering Café L’Europe’s
Titus Letschert By Steven J. Smith
Titus Letschert, proprietor of the hugely popular restaurant Café L’Europe on St. Armands Circle, recently lost his 21-month battle with cancer. He was 67 years old. A native of Holland, Letschert opened Café L’Europe with partner Norbert Goldner in 1973 following successful ventures as assistant general manager at Bill Paley’s Ground Floor Restaurant and co-manager of the Sign of the Dove restaurant and Yellow Finger discotheque, all in New York City. Some of Sarasota’s most successful restaurateurs — Michael Garey of Lazy Lobster Longboat Key, Ray Arpke of Euphemia Hay, Harry Christensen of Harry’s Continental Kitchens, J.P. Knaggs of Bijou Café, and Bob Fracalossy of the Lazy Lobster — all put in time at “Café L’Europe University,” as they called it, before opening their own restaurants. Among those surviving Letschert are his former wife, Betsie Coolidge, who is now sole owner of the restaurant, and his longtime companion Caroline Brown. Betsie and Caroline agreed to meet at the restaurant for a remembrance of the man who touched their lives. Betsie met Letschert at Café L’Europe shortly after the restaurant first opened in 1973. “I was there for a bridal shower/luncheon,” Betsie said. “We started dating in 1978. We dated off and on, and we got married in 1995. I became involved in the business and we became business partners.” Betsie added that their business partner arrangement soon superseded the marriage partner relationship, although the two would remain friendly. Caroline met Letschert six years ago, on St. Armands Circle. “I was working on the Circle, managing a gift shop,” Caroline said. “Every morning Titus knew what time I arrived at work, and he’d be there, waiting for me. I was going to do a grand opening for the shop and I asked Titus if he could cater it for me.” “Sly move,” laughed Betsie. “I didn’t know this!” The two laughed. “I met him at the Ritz for the event,” Caroline said. “We were pretty much inseparable from that night on.” Betsie counted several trips to Europe among her fondest memories of Letschert. “We went to England, Holland, and Austria,” she said. “Also New York City. And Titus really loved sailing, as well as going to restaurants in Europe. He loved to try different foods there and then incorporate them in the restaurant here.” Caroline added that Letschert was very proud to be a naturalized American citizen. “And he loved policemen and firemen,” she said. “I don’t know how many times we were on (Route) 41, where the firemen would be out collecting donations at a busy intersection. Titus never cared how late we were. He would pull a U-turn to go over and throw a $50 bill into that bucket.” Betsie said that among all of his traits, she admired Letschert’s integrity the most. “Titus was just an upright, great guy,” she said. “He had a big heart and was honest. And anytime he heard about someone in need, he would be jumping right in there to help out with a benefit. From sick children to old people to taking meals to patients in the hospital. He even put a pagoda on the roof at the Visitors Center. There must be a hundred things he did like that.” scenesarasota.com
April 2011
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