Indeed a sad and tragic loss. It was a huge truck that smashed into his red little car, a car I rode in several times with Jacques transporting books from his place to my hotel. I can still see him unloading boxes of books last month for us. I am just simply stunned. For the last 11 years of my visiting Paris there were maybe 2 or 3 opportunities when I did not meet with him for breakfast (his favorite time) or lunch (mine)...we would sit and chat about the Romanovs for hours and hours and hours. He was excellent at helping me identify people in obscure Russian photos.
The last time Dave and I saw him he spent a considerable time expounding on his love of Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine and told us our next visit to that paradise should be to Huahine...plus de plage, rien de culture, mais on l'aime beaucoup (lots of beach, little culture, but one loves it so! - could not agree with him more!) were among his last words to me. "See you in January," he said. He also loved the Greek book and hoped that some day I would do something similar to it with the Romanovs. His support of my magazine was unconditional – I have an interview with him that we have yet to publish. I suppose, I know, Paris will not ever be the same without a visit with him.
He was the among the kindest, most soft-spoken, reserved, welcoming and accepting, yet bursting with passion, men I have ever met and will miss him tremendously.
Arturo Beéche
