Etzer Chicoye Obituary

Dr. Etzer Chicoye, 98, passed away July 12, 2025, peacefully surrounded by family. He was known as a brilliant man with many friends and a large family.
Born in Jacmel, Haiti, November 4, 1926 to the late Rigaud and Apoline Chicoye. He graduated number one in the country from high school. He gained his Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Damien University in Port au Prince. He was then offered a full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin where he completed his Masters of Science in Food Technology in 1954. It is there that he met his wife, Loree Bruce. They married in Haiti in 1954. They left Haiti and moved to Chicago where he worked with Dr. Percy Julian in the research and development of our modern steriods.
With now two children in tow, Etzer and Loree went back to the University of Wisconsin where is completed his PhD in Food Technology in 1967. He was then hired by Miller Brewing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as Director of Research for Miller Brewing where he worked for over 30 years. Known as a brilliant analytical food scientist who paid meticulous attention to detail, he and his research team developed Miller Lite. This took Miller Brewing from the number seven bestselling brand to number two. During his career, he had many notable successes. He was awarded 18 process patents for beer, became a member of the Meister Brewers Association, and was on the board of the American Dairy Association (ADA). Classical music was his passion, and he became a patron of the art. Etzer pledged Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Boulet service organizations. He also generously donated to over 30 different funds, yearly.
Etzer was a patriarch of a strong, proud multi-ethnic, multinational family and extended family. He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Dolores (Loree), two children, Lorena and Rigaud (wife: Rosalinda), four grand and step grandchildren (Renee and Reina/Shella and Gregory), and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Lisa Andre and her children, Ronald, Yanitza, and Reynold.
A Memorial Gathering is to be held on Saturday, July 19th, 2025 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, located at 1600 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024.
A Tributes of a Lifetime service will begin at 2:00 PM.
** The livestream will start 5 minutes prior to the service on our Facebook page