Leon COURVILLE

1945 - 2023

Léon Courville 1945-2023 On September 26, 2023, at the age of 78, Léon Courville died peacefully, at the end of a cancer that he fought with his legendary passion and tenacity. Léon lived several lives in one: economist, teacher, manager, entrepreneur, director, author, thinker, provocateur, advisor, mentor and winemaker. Driven by his constant desire to expand and share his knowledge, he charted new paths with extraordinary conviction. The eldest of a family of four children, Léon pursued studies in economics at the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HÉC) and obtained a PhD in Economics at Carnegie-Mellon University, before undertaking a teaching career at the University of Rochester and HÉC, where he became Director of the Institute of Applied Economics and, subsequently, maintained a continuing commitment to the institution. He then began a second career in management by joining the National Bank of Canada, where he became Chief Economist and, eventually, President and Chief Operating Officer. He retired at the young age of 53 and embarked on a winemaking adventure, which would constitute a third career which brought him satisfaction and great pride. Throughout this varied journey, Léon made an important contribution through his involvement in economics, finance and commerce, in addition to supporting social and health organizations. Léon has always stood out for his contrarian thoughts and approach, whether in a university class, within a banking institution or a on board of directors. But it was in his vineyard that his determination was most clearly manifested, constantly fighting alongside Anne-Marie, his business and life partner, and their team against the vagaries of Mother Nature, to create in Quebec world-class wines that deserve to be celebrated both for their quality and their unique character. Passionate about the economy and the vine throughout his life, Léon always united his friends, wine and debate - a recipe which was, for him, the currency of togetherness through shared discoveries. He is survived by his partner, Anne-Marie Lemire; his children, Jean-François (Melody Courville, née McCague) and Alain (Stéphanie Dalcourt); his grandchildren, Charlotte, Julien, Thomas, Romy and Alixe; his sister, Marie-France (Pierre Pelland); his brother, Alain (Jocelyne Poitras); and the children of Anne-Marie, Didier (Veronica Herrera Munguira) and Lucas (Jonathan Carlone). The family members would like to thank the extraordinary teams at Brome Missisquoi palliative home care and at the Centre de réhabilitation de l'Estrie. The family will receive condolences at Les Résidences et Jardins Funéraires Bessette (Bromont) at 682, rue Shefford in Bromont, on Thursday October 5th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and will welcome you to the church of the Saint-François-Xavier Parish located at 650, Rue Shefford in Bromont on Friday, October 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A religious ceremony will follow at 11:00 a.m. If you wish, your expressions of sympathy can result in a donation to the Brome Missisquoi hospital foundation or to la Maison au Diapason.