Bakery & Cafe in Indio Honors Pilot with Name on Menu

The owners of a Bakery and Cafe in Indio are remembering a man killed in a plane crash last weekend.

69-year-old Max Mizejewski, a pilot from Orange County, died when his small plane went down in a remote area of Borrego Springs.

Mizejewski frequently flew in and out of Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal. His family reported him missing when he didn’t return from a two hour flight.

Veronica and Alonzo Burgen say Mizejewski always stopped by their business ‘justme Sweets’ in Indio for lunch. He’d order the same meal every time, a ham and cheese sandwich.. a cookie.. and a drink.

They say they were shocked to hear of his passing, and in honor of him, they’re naming that meal on their menu as “The Max Special.”

“We didn’t know him the well, but you know, when you get to know somebody, especially a nice guy like that, it’s like wow.. that’s too bad,” said Alonzo Burgen.

The Burgens opened their caf and bakery 3 months ago. They say with the opening of their business, and Mr. Mizejewski becoming a regular customer, news of his death hit home.

“I knew he loved to fly, that was one of his passions I guess. After he retired, he said he was really able to get into it and do it daily, so he really really loved to fly,” said Burgen.

The Burgens say they’re hoping to get in touch with the pilot’s family and share with them the cookies they say Mizejewski often told them he enjoyed.

The 69-year-old was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam war. The cause of the plane crash remains under investigation.