ORINDA, CALIFORNIA – John Goyak, the longtime owner of Casa Orinda, died September 5 in Orinda. He was 79.
Goyak spent much of his life at the Western-themed restaurant on Bryant Way, helping preserve a gathering place that has served Orinda since 1932. His family announced his death in an obituary published on Legacy.com. It did not state a cause.
His connection to Casa Orinda began as a teenager. According to the restaurant’s history, he started there as a busboy in 1967. His father, Ivan Goyak, joined founder Jack Snow as a partner the following year and brought John into the kitchen. The Goyak family took full ownership in 1978, and John later bought out his sister’s share to become sole owner…