Jean-Paul Croizer, 82, of Palm Coast, Fla.

PALM COAST, FLA. >> JeanPaul Croizer, 82, passed away on March 29, 2017, in Palm Coast, Fla.

Jean-Paul was born in St Tugdual, France, to Lucien and Marie-Louise Croizer on June 4, 1934. Jean-Paul was the oldest of four children. In 1961, he married the love of his life, Yvonne (Le Parc). In 1962, they immigrated to the United States. Trained as a farrier, he adapted to New York City, where he learned to cook while working in the kitchens of Air France and several New York City restaurants. He spent much of his time off at his cabin in the Catskill Mountains trout fishing and playing petanque with his friends. He moved to Kingston, N.Y., in 1976 where he was a partner and chef at the restaurant, L’Auberge 32. In 1986, he opened Le Petit Bistro in Rhinebeck, N.Y. The “Bistro”, as it was known, had a cultlike following where people came to be served Jean-Paul’s creations. In 2006, several years after retiring from the restaurant business, he moved to Palm Coast, where he took up playing croquet and bicycling. He could always be found on a local bike trail resting on a bench with a smile on his face willing to talk to anyone that cared to have a conversation.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marie-Therese.

Jean-Paul is survived by his wife of 55 years Yvonne; their son, Thierry, his wife Karen of Kingston, N.Y.; and two grandchildren, Tyler and Megan, whom he loved tremendously. Two sisters, Louisette “Lulu” Bertot and Martine Le Pen, and many nieces and nephews survive in France.

At Jean-Paul’s request, no service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 3152 Little Road, Suite 146, Trinity, Fla., 34655.