TRIBUTES have been paid to hotelier George Riach.
Mr Riach (pictured), who had managed Cobo Bay Hotel since 1987, died on Sunday after a short illness.
He was on his annual holiday to Thailand when he became ill with a perforated bowel. Despite being put on dialysis, he did not recover and the decision was taken to turn off his life support.
Dave Nussbaumer, who owns the hotel, said Mr Riach was one of a kind.
‘He joined us in May 1987 and our son Jamie was born a month later,’ he said.
‘He would look after him while we did lunch. He did the same thing in 1989 when Luke was born. He used to try to get them off to sleep and when they got older he would take them off to the shops. He was like another father to them.’
He was well known to hotel residents and diners in the restaurant, always insisting on calling them sir or madam.
‘He was a real entertainer,’ said Julia Nussbaumer.
‘Mrs Doubtfire was his piece. He loved the theatre and went to see Joseph at least 40 times. He used to sing a song from it but there was one line he always forgot.’
Mr Nussbaumer said his true vocation in life had been as a Butlin’s redcoat.
‘He always made time for people,’ Mr Nussbaumer said.
‘He made everybody feel special.
‘He is sadly missed. Cobo was George. He was a lot more local than some of the locals.
‘We are very lucky to have had him work for us.
‘On Sunday, we had a team hug and got through lunch, which was testament to what a great team he had behind him.’
Mr Riach’s funeral will be held locally before he is cremated and his ashes scattered at his favourite racecourse back in Scotland.
A book of remembrance has been opened which will be kept in reception at the hotel.
Article posted on 17th March, 2009 - 2.29pm
16 Article Comments
Whenever we visited Guernsey we were well looked after by George when visiting the Cobo Bay Hotel.
A character that will be sadly missed.Rest in Peace George!
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Shocked. George was a very special man. A gentleman and one who will be so badly missed, he never stopped working and was so friendly. Rest in peace George.
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Sorry David it won’t be quite the same at Cobo Bay Hotel without George,I Know you will miss him greatly, Greg no one could have put it better R.I.P George
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RIP George.
Great character, always smiling and helped make our Wedding reception a success many years ago.
The benchmark for all to reach when it comes to customer service. A good good man
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What a superb person George was – always so welcoming and quietly and confidently in control.
Such a sad loss – what an act to follow.
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I’m so shocked……
George was a wonderful man and did such an amazing job as MC at our wedding…..He was a good friend to my sister when she went through a hard time a few years ago and was Mr. Cobo Bay Hotel.
Our condolences to those who were close to him especially the Nussbaumer’s.
He will most definitely be very sadly missed.
RIP George.
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Dear David & Julie and Family, I am so sorry to read that George has passed away. Your Family I know will miss him terribly, I also thought he was a great guy,great sense of humour [he had to have] and very loyal!! I am sorry I can’t attend his funeral, Rest In Peace George!!
Sjaak Angenent. South Africa.
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We moved to the Isle of Man6 years ago but all of the family are saddened to hear of George’s death. He was one of a kind who will be sorely missed.
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George, will be sadly missed by all at Everton FC Youth Academy. He always made us feel most welcome and as if we were the only people staying in the hotel! We would like to pass on our condolences to his family and friends.Our trip over won’t be the same without him.
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Sad to hear George had passed away,He was a true gentleman,When Everton academy stayed at the Cobo bay hotel George looked after the groups every needs.Will sadly be missed from all at Everton academy
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Uncle George was one in a million,a very special individual.My family and I,have lots of very special memories of our Uncle George-His singing’he has the whole world in his hands’ ‘k sara sara’ to our trips to the arcade’s down at Eyemouth,to the runs in the car with our Nana,to just simply spending time with him. On behalf of the whole family Uncle George was a wonderful Son,Brother,Uncle and Great Uncle to us all. Uncle George you were so special to us all,you made everyday we had with you so special and unforgetable.Its so very true what they say ‘God only takes the best’.You will always hold a very special place in our hearts.Loveing you and missing you always and forever. Love from Roberta,Belinda,Brenda,Duncan,Alan,Tommy,Samantha,Shelley,Bruce,Tamsin,Jade and Lucy. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
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My special Uncle George you where a very kind loving man so special to all the family and all your many friends and so irreplaceable. I will miss the way you embraced us with your love and joy, a song, a cuddle, a kiss, you getting a bit drunk with Alan and Tommy. The fun you had with samantha,Shelley,Bruce and Tamsin the memories you gave they still talk so fondly of you and laugh about the time at the shows when you asked the fairground man not to spin you fast on the waltzes and he did the opposite which made you and their gran scream even louder. I thank you for the fun you gave ,the times we laughed and talked ,the trips out, your love of life and I was so proud that you where true to who you where, your gift of embracing all who where privileged to know you.Loveing you your niece Belinda and family xxx.
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I can only echo whats been said above.
George and Cobo bay go hand in hand, and I will always associate my visits there with his excellent service, and great personality.
RIP George
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George you were the consumate professional always someone looked up to in the hospitality industry.Everyone wants to find a George but few are ever lucky enough.God Bless George it was my privelege to have known you .
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My daughter rang me last night to tell me that George had died. We stayed at the Cobo Bay Hotel last year with our 5 year old grandson and we will be back again this year. George was wonderful with children, we all liked him enormously. He was so courteous and helpful, excellent at his job.
What a terrible loss, he will be missed by so many, not least the Nussbaumer family. We are so pleased to have met you George.
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We were so sorry to learn of George’s untimely death. Although we hadn’t seen George for many years, he still features in conversations about the ‘old days’. Even 35 years on, that memorable trip to Germany during Scotland’s World Cup Campaign is still talked about; and who could forget the staff day trip to Whitley Bay, 1974?! It’s impossible to hear or sing ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’ without thinking about George. With fond memories of happy times, we send our sincere condolences to Roberta and the rest of George’s family – Graeme & Moira (now in St Andrews)
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