Marvin "Marvino" Zeidler

Legendary Los Angeleno Marvin Zeidler, entrepreneur, restaurauteur, art patron, gourmet, world traveler, fabulous host, and patriarch, has died, on his own terms, at 98. Born in Boyle Heights, to Gene Pine and Charles Zeidler, and followed by brothers Leland and Harris, he graduated from Roosevelt High School and enlisted in the U.S. army at 18, serving in the occupation on Okinawa. Returning to California he married life-long sweetheart Judy Tannes in1950 and began a love song (she loved music!) for the ages. From selling peanuts at the Coliseum to the sales department of the “Herald-Examiner” to selling television sets, he joined brother Leland in the trend-setting men’s fashion soon-to-be-empire, Zeidler & Zeidler, Ltd. Meanwhile, the children came along: Susan, Marc, Kathy, Paul, and Zeke. Where to keep all these bouncing little buddies? Let’s buy a 46-acre ranch in Topanga! What do two city kids know about living on a ranch? Not one thing, but the whole family learned together and the Topanga adventure (1963-1975) is never to be forgotten. Marvin brought fresh eggs to sell off the counter at Z&Z and Judy baked strudel for the nearby Discovery Inn. You can take the kids out of Topanga but you can’t take Topanga out of the kids. However, when the ranch hands (Susan, Marc, Kathy, Paul, and Zeke, who also worked in the stores) aged out Marvin and Judy relocated to Brentwood, and there they remained, unless they were in Italy (heart’s home), or traveling the world, or evacuating from the recent fires.

In 1985, Marvin and Leland sold Z&Z and Marvin opened his first restaurant, Citrus, on Melrose, with super chef and dear friend Michel Richard. For years Citrus was high on the list of best restaurants in the U.S., and Los Angelenos who talk about it today still find their mouths watering. Talk about hitting a home run with your first swing! Marvin’s other restaurants include Broadway Deli (Santa Monica), Capo, Cora’s Café, Brass Cap, Brentwood, Brentwood Café, and Rooster. He mentored other restaurauteurs, in the U.S. and Italy, and was a founder of the Skirball Cultural Center, where he and Judy donated the café that bears their name. They were among the founders as well of LACMA and MOCA, and Marvin and dear friend, artist Leonard Skuro, spearheaded the creation of the Santa Fe Art Colony, affordable housing/workspace  for artists, on Santa Fe St. downtown. He enlivened the Hollywood Food and Wine society and served as its president, judged wine at the L.A. County Fair, and enjoyed countless classical nights in his box at the Hollywood Bowl. He and Judy, married 72 years, hosted enormous Passover seders, two every year, for family and scores of friends who became family and will never forget.

He was a humble man who put all his achievements down to luck but always said you make your own luck. Practically his last words were to tell us all how much he loved us and how proud he was of all of us. Also, “Can I have some of that ice cream?” He was predeceased by wife Judy, son Marc (Amy Tidus), brothers Leland (Marian Cohn) and Harris (Lorraine Geldin). Surviving him, loving him, and proud of him are children Susan (Leo Frishberg), Kathy (Steve Mezzanatto), Paul (Amber Spence), and Honorable D. Zeke (Jay Kohorn), grandchildren Ariella, Melina, Aaron (Amanda Dean) Normandie (Daniel Morande), Giamaica (T. Steven Bullock), Zane (Leah Gasser-Ordaz), Quest (Marvin’s biographer); great-grandchildren Ava, Amy, Avery, Destry, and Zuri; cousins, nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law; adopted son Dario Cecchini (Kim) and countless loving friends of all ages all over the world. Tender gratitude to devoted caretakers Alquin Solinap and Juvy Palermo, Danilo Guarin, and Justin Tojino. Surely he and Judy are back together playing bocce. Ciao, Marvino! Your memory will always be for a blessing.