TRAULSEN, Hans Traulsen, (Chef)

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona February 16, 2003 Chef Hans Traulsen, "The Chocolate Man in the Black Fishermans Hat", age 89, passed away November 17th, 2002 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born in Rendsburg, Germany. After graduating from culinary school, he worked as a Chef for the Hamburg American Cruise Line. When World War II broke out in Europe, he immigrated to the United States. He worked at a Brew Meister in New Ark, New Jersey and later spent time in San Francisco, Canada, and Hawaii working for Mercedez Benz. Finally, his own desire to find the "American Dream Dessert" kicked in and he moved to Arizona. He succeeded by creating an excellent new cheesecake, enrobed in the finest belgian chocolate, the original "Continental Cheesecake Bon Bon". His products were sold to local fine food stores, Midway Airlines and during an appearance on QVC in 1997 he sold 30,000 Bon Bons in 15 minutes. He was also featured in the Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalog. He is survived by a sister Dorothy Horn of Florida and Florence Hopper, his companion for the past 17 years. It can safely be said that Hans was a highly talented, idealistic and sentimental soul, and his friends will miss him. He requested his ashes be spread by the winds over Camelback Mountain. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.