Jean Sparozic, age 93, died on Jan. 12, in West Newbury, Mass., with residences in Port Washington and Huntington and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Jean was the beloved husband of the late Joyce Dendievel Sparozic. Loving father of Jill Morrison, Suzy Sparozic, and Wendy Dirkes. Adored grandfather of Jonathan and Ryan. Dear brother of Marie Gunderson. Reposing at Austin F. Knowles, Inc. Funeral Home, 128 Main St. Port Washington Friday 4-8 PM. Graveside service Saturday 11 a.m. Nassau Knolls Cemetery.
For over 40 years, Jean was owner of Amoureuse Couture, a 7th Avenue Evening Gown Mfg. Amoureuse Couture in New York City, making glamorous custom formal gowns for such notables as Mamie Eisenhower, wife of the President, Opera singer, Beverly Sills, Kathryn Harken (wife of Zero Mostel), Rudy Giuliani’s second wife, Donna Hanover for President George H.W. Bush’s inauguration, a Saudi Prince’s daughter, Rose Mary Clooney, as well, sold to such stores as Saks, Hirshleifer’s on Miracle Mile, and many more around the country.
Before opening his own company, Jean worked with Bill Blass and Oleg Cassini amongst others notable fashion industry giants.
Born in Masny, France, on Sept. 3, 1926, Spazoric was a French Merchant Marine and made 32 trips across the Atlantic to the U.S.A. during WWII.
As a child he was educated at a convent with his sister, his mother, a devout Catholic had high hopes he would enter the seminary, but Jean had other ideas and wanted to become a merchant sea captain and see the world.
At 16, that dream became a reality when he joined the French Merchant Marines during World War II, making close to 40 trips to the United States and other ports of call. Many times the ships carried American soldiers and supplies back to war-torn France and other seaports.
Each time after he came to New York Harbor, he would never forget the sight of seeing the Statue of Liberty and being a symbol of freedom.
While in New York City, during free time, he would visit the USO French Canteen, where he met his future bride, Joyce Dendievel, a beautiful, young British and French fashion designer.
Joyce was fluent in French, she was a volunteer at the canteen for the war effort. Jean had tickets to Radio City Christmas Show and the romance bloomed. Joyce was smitten with Jean’s french accent and Johnny Depp good looks!
After several trips back and forth to France, at 19 years old, Jean decided he wanted to make a life with Joyce in the U.S., and they were married.
Not knowing English, it was rough at first finding work. After moving to Port Washington to live with Joyce and her family, Jean worked for a time at Shield’s Plumbing. The couple moved to New York City and he would find himself working at the Waldorf Astoria in the kitchen until he visited Joyce’s company, and she helped him find work in the garment district.
He became fascinated with the pattern makers and started taking night courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he became proficient in pattern making and tops in his field.
At this point, in 1958, Joyce had become a mother to the three girls, and she had saved enough to buy a home. In 1966, he started Amoureuse Couture, and the rest is history. He continued taking courses of all sorts into his fifties.
Around this time, Jean also was able to help bring his mother, step-father, sister and her children from Algiers which was war-torn from French Algerian War at the time, to live in Port Washington, as well.
Jean loved sailing and kept his boat at the Town Dock, taking the family out sailing and fishing.
The couple had spent many summer’s in Montauk camping and fishing, as well. Jean’s other love was restoring old Mercedes Benz in his spare time, well into his eighties.
(Photo provided by Jill Morrison)
