Albert "Al" Kramer

Albert (Al) Kramer, of Cornville, Arizona, passed away on May 16, 2024, at the age of 88. Born in 1935, he was raised in Saint Gallen, Switzerland, where at an early age, he apprenticed as a cook in his family’s restaurant. He graduated from culinary school in 1954 and spent two years as a journeyman line cook in Switzerland. In 1956, he was hired by the Canadian Pacific Hotels and emigrated to Canada, where he worked at the famous Château Frontenac Hotel in Quebec City for many years. It was there that he met the love of his life, Isabelle.

Isabelle and Albert were married in Quebec in 1957 and moved to Eleuthera in the Bahamas in 1959, where Albert became the executive chef at the Cotton Bay Golf and Country Club. He was then hired as the opening Executive Chef at the Little Dix Bay Resort in Virgin Gorda in 1963. By that time, Albert and Isabelle had their four children in tow: Bernard, Linda, Sylvie, and Esther. In 1967, they moved back to Canada and lived in Quebec and Montreal before relocating to Puerto Rico. From there, life took them to Miami, St. Croix, Clearwater, and then Charleston, South Carolina. As Al continued to expand his culinary skills and experience, the family moved to San Jose, California, before returning to Neptune Beach, Florida, where Al served as the executive chef at the Ponte Vedra Country Club. While in Florida, he also worked as a consultant for the Breakers in Palm Beach and opened Nikolai‘s Roof in Atlanta. During his time in Florida, Albert served as president of the northern chapter of the American Culinary Federation and was a member of the Academy of Chefs and Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. 

Life took Al and Isabelle back to California, then on to Cancun, Mexico, before returning to California, where they owned and managed award-winning restaurants. The couple finally settled in the town of Cornville, Arizona, where they were owners and operators of the Manzanita Inn Restaurant for 12 years. The restaurant was recognized as one of the hundred best restaurants in Arizona and won multiple other awards.

Al was an avid horticulturist - he loved everything about it. He had the ultimate green thumb, being able to grow pretty much anything he wanted on his property. He adored his lush floral garden and cultivated the most spectacular roses. Throughout the year, Al enjoyed tending to his herbs, abundant fruit trees, seasonal vegetables, and his small vineyard, from which he made his own wine. Al’s garden supplied the local farmers' market and their restaurant with garden-to-table provisions, which were embraced by his customers. As a hobby, Al collected rare wines and old cookbooks. He amassed several hundred cookbooks at one point, some dating back to 1662. Al would love to be remembered for mentoring and apprenticing hundreds of young aspiring cooks. He was generous with his time and knowledge

A viewing will be held Wednesday, May 22, 4:00-5:30 PM at Westcott Funeral Home. Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, at 11:00AM, Thursday, May 23, 2024.  A celebration of life will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be sent to Compassus Hospice of Sedona in his memory.