RANCHO MIRAGE - Stuart Anderson, the founder of the Black Angus Steakhouse restaurant chain, has died at his home here. He was 93 years old.

Anderson's wife and daughter described a man with a zest for life, goal-setting, trying new things and having fun.

"The best thing about my dad is he was really fun," said Christopher Carol Gee, Anderson's daughter. "He had a Jeep when no one else had a Jeep. He had a camper when nobody else knew what they were."

Anderson opened the first Black Angus Steakhouse in 1964. The chain eventually grew to include more than 100 restaurants across 19 states. According to the company's website, they currently have 47 locations in six states. Of that number, 31 restaurants are in California.

Though Anderson sold the chain years ago, he and his wife reopened a location in Rancho Mirage, which they called Stuart's Steakhouse, six years ago. That restaurant closed in 2012 and the space was taken over by the now-defunct Stadium Club Sports Bistro.

A private family service will be held in Seattle, but a celebration of life is being planned for November in Rancho Mirage, to coincide with what would have been Anderson's 94th birthday. (Source: Desert Sun)

Story Date: June 13, 2016