Christian Robert Odasso

Family-Placed Obituary

CHRISTIAN ROBERT ODASSO A long time resident of Palm Beach, FL, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011 after a lengthy illness. Born in Paris in 1940, Christian served in the French marines as a photographer during the Algerian War. He was a photo journalist for Paris Match before becoming a documentary filmmaker, with a body of work of over 40 films. During the French New Wave, Christian worked with Orson Welles, François Reichenbach, Chris Marker, and Claude Lelouch. Reichenbach and he won multiple awards, including an Academy Award and the Palme d'or at Cannes. He filmed luminaries like Dalí, Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau, Karajan, Menuin, Arthur Rubinstein, Jim Harrison, Richard Brautigan, Van Morrison, BB King, and Jimmy Buffett. He recorded JFK's funeral, the Vietnam war, Woodstock, Mission Control during the moon landing, and extensively with indigenous peoples in Central America. In 1970, Christian met Lorraine de la Valdène, granddaughter of Amy Phipps and daughter of Diana Guest, and moved to Palm Beach. An amateur horticulturist, he cultivated rare specimens of orchids. He had extensive knowledge of classical music, history, the arts, fine cuisine and wine. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of forty-one years Lorraine, children Frederic and Diana, grandson Christian Greenwood, and mother Edith Tissier. A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME. 1201 South Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, followed by a funeral service at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions in his memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Attn: Terri Krueger, PO Box 389, Smithville, TX 78957 or to the Palm Beach Cancer Institute Foundation, 1411 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 8900B, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME Family Owned and Operated (561) 832-5171 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries