Maurice Chez; Businessman, Public Servant

Maurice Rene Chez, a business executive who devoted his retirement years to service on Los Angeles County oversight commissions, has died. He was 84.

Chez died Thursday of cancer at his Los Angeles home, his son, Dr. Ronald A. Chez, said.

Chez retired in 1956 as president of Max Factor & Co. after 30 years with the company.

After serving on the 1966 Los Angeles County Grand Jury, he was active in the Grand Jury Assn. until 1989, serving as president of the group in 1971 and 1972.

Chez was on the Los Angeles County Efficiency and Economy Committee from 1967 to 1975, and acted as its chairman from 1973 to 1975. He was a Los Angeles County real estate commissioner from 1976 to 1981, a member of the Los Angeles County Retirement Board in 1981 and the Los Angeles County Commission on Judicial Procedure from 1982 to 1989.

Chez served on California’s Little Hoover Commission from 1976 to 1981.

He was also a former chairman of the Otis Art Institute Board of Governors, a member of the Board of Governors of the Southern California Senior Golf Assn. and active in the Hillcrest Country Club.

In addition to his son, of Tampa, Chez is survived by his wife, Florence; daughters Joanne Irmas of Carmel and Jamie O’Connell of Palm Springs; a brother, and six grandchildren.