Yves Ruiz was born January 5, 1963, the youngest of five, in Dijon, France where he was raised and lived until he was 23. Yves had a happy childhood, surrounded by loving family, along with lifelong and sometimes mischievous friends that he adored. To his dying day, Yves always delighted in sharing stories of some of his childhood shenanigans back in France. Yves began his culinary apprenticeship at the age of 14 and from that point on, cooked for the rest of his life.
He served honorably in the French military for two years where he was stationed in French Guyana. During that period, he enjoyed traveling throughout South America, and especially Brazil. Those endeavors, too, generated hilarious and fond stories that Yves shared with all who would listen until his very end.
At 23 Yves met married Susan Tant in Dijon, France and followed her back to the U.S. where they married and he lived for the remainder of his life. He started his life in the U.S. by working as a chef at Jean-Claude’s Café in Raleigh. He was also a chef at NC State for many years where he enjoyed feeding his Wolfpack family until his death.
While he lived for many years in the U.S., Yves was one proud Frenchman who cherished his French nationality… and made a point to make sure that everyone knew that he was French, (in the event that they couldn’t already tell by his classic French accent, and his creative and sometimes colorful command of the English language)!
Some of Yves’ happiest times were spent coaching the kids’ soccer teams for many years, always cheering loudly in his distinct French accent along the sidelines, sitting on the beach, any beach, and Ocracoke Island, in particular, and spending time with Penny, his life partner, his kids Tom, Coco, and Henri and his many many friends.
Yves was a lifelong fan of his favorite musicians Michel Sardou and Johnny Hallyday, and their music formed the soundtrack of his life, as well as the lives of everyone who ever lived with, or rode in the car with Yves; as Tom, Coco, and Henri could attest. While Yves was professionally trained as a classic French chef, he also very much enjoyed cooking at home for family and friends… while, of course Michel Sardou played in the background.
Yves was a simple man who loved deeply, and was deeply loved in return. He was funny, blunt, kind, forgiving, loyal, and thoughtful. He had a special knack for befriending people of all ages and from all walks of life. He spent his final days happily watching La Tour de France, celebrating Bastille Day on July 14th, and watching the 2018 World Cup at home with Penny, Henri and Coco. And when France won the 2018 World Cup on the last day of Yves’ life, ALL was right in Yves’ world. Allez les Bleus!
Yves is lovingly survived by a large global family: Penelope (Penny) El-Bay, his better half, his children Colette (Coco) Elaine Ruiz and Henri Woodruff Ruiz of Raleigh, his extended family Susan Tant Ruiz of Raleigh, Sandra and Harold Tant of New Bern, his siblings Danielle Ruiz of Avignon, France, Catherine Riera and Alain Riera, Sylvie Carminati Ruiz, Gerard Ruiz and Christine Ruiz of Dijon, France, his nieces and nephews, Benjamin Ruiz and his family, Anne-Sophie Ruiz and her family, Stephanie Ruiz, Aurelie Ruiz, Julie Riera and her family, and Loic Riera, all of Dijon, France. Additional extended family includes Rose Boone and her children Jonathan, Daniel, Matt and Kaylee of Raleigh, Carol and Sam Carter of Wilmington, Tommy and Shannon Tant and their children of Raleigh, and Lainey Tant of New York, NY.
Sadly, Yves is preceded in death by his son Thomas Yves Ruiz of Raleigh, his brother Marcel Ruiz and his parents Colette and Marcel Ruiz of Dijon, France.
Like his son Tom, as his final gesture, Yves gave the gift of sight and life in donating his organs and tissue. In lieu of flowers, donations in Yves’ honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to end childhood cancer at https://www.stjude.org/donate.
