Jean Riviere

RIVIERE, Jean "Bob"

December 25, 1937 - September 17, 2025

Jean Riviere was born in Paris on Christmas Day to Jacques Riviere, a French civil servant (préfet or governer) from the Toulouse region, and Helene Agueeff Arnoldoff, a Russian émigré born in Odessa, of parents from Kiev. His father was Secretaire general de la Seine, and Bob's first playground was the private garden of the Préfet at the Hotel de Ville, where he lived with his parents and grandmother until the war began. Jacques did not want to collaborate with the Nazis, so the family moved from the City Hall for the 8th district of Paris, near the Champs Elysees. The couple had for their young child a Swiss German nurse who called her charge Bobily, baby in Swiss German, which became Bobby and finally Bob. From then on he was always called Bob. except by his students that knew him as Jean-Bob. When some one phoned and asked for Jean, we knew it was a robocall.

Bob's first language was Russian, spoken with his mother and grandmother, and he remained largely influenced by this culture.

Bob attended boarding school at Saint Martin de Pontoise and graduated from lycee Pasteur. In university he studied law and worked at La Celophane until he decided to return to school. After receiving his diploma from the Ecole du Louvre, he earned his Doctorate in Art History Flemish Renaissance paintings at University of Paris 4. He was Charge de mission of des musees nationaux, especially at the Franco American museum in Blerancourt. He lectured in Boulogne and elsewhere around Paris, but his love was teaching. He taught Art History for over 20 years to the students studying in France, and with James Madison Univerisity of Harrisonburg, Virginia. His students loved him as much as he did them, and admired his classes, his humor, and his enthusiasm. The postcards they sent him of of paintings they had seen during their travels were trophies he proudly guarded.

Bob's father died very young from Tuberculosis, while Bob was still in high school. For him to finish school, his mother became one of the Sweet Briar Mothers for 23 years, during which she hosted four American girls for their Junior year abroad. Bob's wife, Harriet Pierce Avary, of Atlanta, was one of those girls. They met in 1961 and married in 1962 at First Methodist Church.

Bob and Harriet have three wonderful sons: Jacques, Jean, and Raimond (and Stephane Pierre+); and 8 grandchildren that make them proud every day.

Until Bob's health deteriorated, the couple travelled extensively, usually to the Far East, accumulating interesting art pieces along the way. They are fortunate to have friends from three continents.

Bob died at home in Paris on September 17, 2025 from heart and lung failure, and was buried at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the family plot after a funeral service at the American Cathedral, officiated by Father Dumond Chavane. All 15 of us, his family, were in attendance.