Tributes to ‘kind, loving’ legend of Midhurst’s hospitality scene

Mario Quieti, of Claremont Way, who was described as a legend of the town’s hospitality sector, passed away suddenly but peacefully on March 1, aged 79.

Paying tribute, his partner of 20 years, Tracey Stonard, said: “He was the kindest, most loving person you would ever meet. He would do anything for anybody.”

Mr Quieti, who was born and brought up in Pesaro, Italy, was always passionate about being a waiter.

He worked at a restaurant in Sardinia and at a local hotel near his home town before doing his army service in the north of Italy.

During the mid 60s, he came to England and worked in Sunderland, before successfully applying for a job at the Midhurst’s Spread Eagle Hotel.

He soon became the maitre d’ and went on to work there for 40 years, becoming the longest serving member of staff.

At the Spread Eagle, Mr Quieti was well-known as a ‘vibrant’ and ‘flamboyant’ character, who loved his job and was ‘meticulous’ about his work, Tracey said.

He was so popular that some guests would only book a table if they knew he would be working that evening.

Mr Quieti married and had two children, Adriano and Patrizia, and would later become an ‘amazing, loving granddad’ of three – Luca Mario, Theo Edmond and Grace Elizabeth.

After his marriage ended, he met Tracey 20 years ago in a pub and spent the rest of his life with her.

Mr Quieti also had a large extended family in Italy, whom he visited every year.

At the age of 65, he was supposed to retire from the Spread Eagle and a big party was held for him – but he carried on working for a further 10 years.

Sadly, on the night of his 40th anniversary of joining the restaurant, he returned home from work and suffered a serious brain injury.

Despite the doctors saying he might not make it through the night, Tracey said he made ‘a brilliant recovery’.

He spent a year in hospital and relearned how to walk and talk, though his memory and speech were affected for the final years of his life.

A celebration of his life was held at Catholic Church of Saint Mary and Saint Francis on March 18.

Tracey thanked staff at the Spread Eagle for hosting the wake and said they had been ‘very good’ to Mr Quieti.

The family said any donations to Headway, the brain injury association, could be made here.