Oct. 20, 2008 — Andre Armand George Ducrot, who ran several restaurants on St. Croix over the past two decades, died Friday at the age of 67.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Daniele, and son, Olivier Ducrot of St. Croix, sister in law Martine Tobschall in Dusseldorf, Germany, and many friends and family in France, Vermont and St. Croix.
Andre and Daniele came to Frederiksted after another lifetime in restaurants. Growing up in the south of France, not far from St. Tropez, André and Danièle met in 1957, while still teenagers, fell in love and got married. In 1966 they had their son, Olivier, and the same year moved to Canada and ultimately Vermont, where for more than two decades they operated a successful French restaurant called the Café Shelburne, which is still there.
The family moved to St. Croix in 1988 and the next year opened their first St. Croix restaurant, Le Strand Café, in the old hotel across from the Athalie McFarlane Petersen Library. After Hurricane Hugo and a major fire destroyed the restaurant, they opened a restaurant called Le Crocodile on Strand Street, across from where Richards and Ayers Realty is now, then opened Le St. Tropez in 1990 on King Street. Now, more than 18 years later, St. Tropez is still going strong.
Burial will be at sea. Friends are welcome to meet and come pay their respects at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Frederiksted Pier.
