Gabriel Sauvion

Published 12:36 pm Friday, May 16, 2008

Born in LesArdennes, France, he was the son of the late Lucien and Marie Sauvion. Sauvion lived in LesArdennes, Paris, and joined the French Resistance at age 16 and served under Charles De Gaulle on the Fantasque Battle Ship. He met action in the Mediterranean and Africa. Sauvion came to the U.S. in 1942 while the ships were refitted. He married Madeline Declercq in 1943. He owned and operated a beauty salon in Chestnut Hill, Penn. Later he married Mary Friga in 1976 and moved to Columbus, in 1984. Sauvion worked as a chef at Highland Lake Inn in Hendersonville, Pinecrest Inn in Tryon, owner and chef of the Calico Cottage in Saluda, and co-owner of The Gourmet Kitchen in Hendersonville. He was preceded in death by a son, Marc Gabriel Sauvion.

Surviving in addition to his wife are one son, Joseph Sauvion (June) of Elgin, S.C.; three daughters, Carol Sauvion of Los Angeles, Calif., Joan Sauvion of Philadelphia, Penn. and Mariann Sauvion (Grady Best) of New York, N.Y.; three sisters, Camille Billebault, Colette Daunay and Josienne Sauvion; two stepdaughters, Maryann Wherry of Harrisburg, Pa., and Elsa Beystrum of Redlands, Calif.: two stepsons, Thomas Seitzinger of Reading, Pa., and George Seitzinger of Lebanon, N.J. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Rachael Reitman, Nicole Marcote, Sara Marcote, Danielle Sauvion, Noah Reitman and Tyler Sauvion.

No local services will be held.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C. 28722 (www.hocf.org) or to Polk County Library, 1289 W. Mills Street, Columbus, N.C. 28722.

An online guest register can be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel of Tryon is in charge of arrangements.

‐ paid obituary