A la mémoire de Marian Baquerot, Directeur exécutif chargé de l’administration auprès de l’OMS

Elodie et Alyane

Marian Baquerot.

Elodie: I was thinking last night about what to say, how to face all these people that you knew in all facets of your life and describe who you were to me. And my answer is that I can’t. You were someone so unique, so unparalleled, so indescribably special and as I sat and contemplated all the qualities that made you, all the behaviours and personality traits you projected in everything that you did, something didn’t add up. It suddenly occurred to me that you had achieved the impossible. You were the only person that I, and probably any of us, knew, that could at once be bossy, demanding, stubborn and, let’s face it, a little scary at times, while somehow also being so respectable, so charming, so loveable to everyone who knew you. Of course when it came to me, you were almost exclusively the latter. I have to differ with your boss, I think maybe I could intimidate you sometimes. As Françoise described it yesterday «comme un mouton», like a sheep in my presence Almost unrecognisable to the people who knew you best, I can still hear you saying «Is this really my daughter? How can I be so lucky to have two such wonderful daughters?» What you didn’t seem to realize is that all the things you saw in me and were so proud of were pure reflections of you. I got the stubborn, overly independent, always have to be right about everything and even if you’re not can argue your way into convincing everyone you are genes. But more than that I got your incredible joie de vivre. You were sometimes so logical it could be frustrating mind. Your diligence, but most of all your strength.

I’m going to get through this with your help, and even more I’m going to hone all of these traits and make you even prouder than you ever knew you could be. So wherever you are now, Daddy, grab your wine, sit back and keep an eye out because another Baquerot is paving her way. And I love you always. Je t’aime Papa.

Alyane: I was too young to remember when I first met you but I will never forget the 22 years that we spent together. You took me in and were the absolute best father that anyone could ever ask for. You taught me so much about ambition, passion, drive, humanity and life. You lived life to its fullest, enjoying every minute of it. Every bite of great food, every sip of wine, every ski slope, every game of volley ball or soccer, and even every store that I would drag you into to shop with me. Everyone here, or most people here, know you as the boss but there was one place where that wasn’t true – shopping. Elodie and I ruled in that aspect of life. To us it was a sport and like all Baquerots we strive for the best. We would go into every store and whenever I tried on and showed you always said «It looks great, you should get it» when in fact it was you that was actually buying it. He said I had a knack for gravitating towards the most expensive item in any given store. Well, I take after him. He was the most generous person that I have ever encountered in my life, and I would try to make him buy some things for himself so that we were even, but we were never even. I could never thank him enough and he always responded with «It was a pleasure» and «That’s what daddies are for». Little did you know that you were so much more than that. He always said he was the luckiest man in the world to have two amazing daughters, but really we were the lucky ones. As Lucy said last night «Une personne parfaite ne peut pas vivre très longtemps» – «Perfect people never live very long». We were lucky to spend the time that we did with you and you will live on forever in both of us. And I love you Daddy.