Victor Callewaert, pillar of Mackinac Island, Ryba's Fudge Shop owner, dies at 85

Victor Andre Callewaert Jr., owner and iconic figure of several Mackinac Island family businesses, died Sunday at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores. He was 85.

His son, Todd Callewaert, said his father had been in hospice care for the last three months.

Callewaert was born on Detroit's east side. He was a longtime Mackinac Island resident with homes in Grosse Pointe Shores and Stuart, Florida.

Callewaert's quest for becoming an entrepreneur began at a young age while he sold Detroit newspapers at the corner of Mack and Chalmers. It was there, outside a doughnut shop, that he met the shop’s owner, Harry Ryba.

Ryba hired the young Callewaert who would later become his business partner and eventually his son-in-law.

Callewaert served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in California. While in the service, he married Harry's daughter, Rena, his high school sweetheart. Together for nearly 60 years, Rena Callewaert died in 2009.

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After the Army, the couple returned to Michigan where Callewaert continued to work for Ryba, whose business expanded to include "Mackinac Island" fudge.

Callewaert and Ryba traveled around the country selling fudge at fairs and, most notably, the Detroit and Chicago auto shows, where Ryba's Fudge became the official sweet treats of those events.

In 1960, Callewaert and Ryba opened their first fudge operation in a storefront on Mackinac Island. Several years later, in 1965, the pair bought the Lake View Hotel.

In the early '80s, the hotel was renovated, adding a couple of wings with additional rooms and a bar called the Pilot House, Todd Callewaert said.

"It was 35 rooms and they turned into an 85-room hotel and what it is today with an indoor pool — the first on the island."

In 1988, Callewaert and Ryba parted ways and split the operations they had, his son said.

Callewaert said that his dad was all about work and family.

The Callewaert family's Mackinac Island businesses have grown since that first fudge shop opened. More than a half-dozen businesses are operated by the Callewaerts, including the historic Island House Hotel, 1852 Grill Room, Ice House BBQ, Ryba’s Fudge Shops, Mary’s Bistro Draught House, Pancake House, Pine Cottage Bed & Breakfast, Seabiscuit Café and a Starbucks.

"That was his major focus in life. He had a business and basically brought all his kids together to help him run it. We basically lived and worked together. He worked hard and loved his family very much, it sounds cliche but that's true about him. "

Callewaert was known around the island wearing his pink, button-down collar shirt, with the Ryba's Fudge logo.

He wore the pink shirt, his son said, and told people to "think pink."

"It was because Ryba's Fudge signature fudge boxes are pink and brown and iconic on the island," Callewaert said.

The families, Callewaert said, are back together now and operating some businesses together.

"Victor was a true entrepreneur and a champion for Mackinac Island, " said the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau in a statement. "There wasn’t a cause or significant island-wide effort that he didn’t have a positive influence on. He cast a huge presence over many decades that will be forever missed. "

Callewaert is credited for playing a pivotal role in the rescue and renovation of the Island House Hotel, according to a statement from the facility.

"As a steward of Island House Hotel, and enthusiastic fudge connoisseur, he will be fondly remembered for numerous contributions to the Mackinac Island community," the Island House Hotel posted on Facebook.

Callewaert said his dad was also known for selling the raffle tickets that benefited several causes on the island from the St. Anne Church to the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival or the island’s medical center.

“He was a friend with them and reveled in it. Anybody he saw, he'd hand them a ticket and they'd look at him like 'what?' He'd say, 'just fill that out and bring me a $100 whenever you can.' "

When riding his bike on the street, Callewaert said, "people would see him and turn away because they didn't want to spend $100 on a raffle ticket because he never took no for an answer. "

Callewaert is survived by his children Mary, Todd, Amy, Ann Parrish and Gregg. He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A private family service will be held. There will be a graveside service planned for a later date on Mackinac Island.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Victor Callewaert, who owned Ryba's Fudge on Mackinac Island, dies