Jacques Barchilon

1923 - 2018

Jacques Cohen Barchilon died peacefully at the age of 95, on June 19 th in Arcata, CA. Born in Morocco in 1923, he grew up in Casablanca. His family moved to Tangiers to escape the Nazis and the Vichy government. He ran away at age 20 to join the Free French Forces, escaping from Tangiers to Gibraltar, on a fishing boat in the middle of the night. He took an assumed name, Jack Lawrence, to hide his Jewish origin - a common practice for soldiers in WWII. After serving in both England and France he emigrated to the US in 1950 where he completed a B.A. in History at the University of Rochester. He took a Masters in Comparative Literature and then a Ph.D. in Romance Languages, both at Harvard University. He taught at the University of Colorado from 1959 to 1991, and was named Professor Emeritus on retirement. Widely published in his field, Jacques was considered one of the pioneers in the study of 17 th century fairy tales as literature. His specialty was Charles Perreault, and he wrote seven books on his life and work, as well as many articles. He published the international and highly influential scholarly journal, Marvels and Tales , from 1981-1991. At the ripe age of 75, he reconnected with his former Harvard classmate Judith Senior. Both had had children, married and divorced, and then found each other again. They married in 1999 and lived together in Denver, CO, for 18 happy years. Such was their love and intellectual partnership that they were fond of saying the best years of their life were those at the end. Up until Judy died (in 2017) they spent every Spring together in Paris, in a small apartment far from tourists, in the 13th Arrondissement. Jacques suffered a broken heart, literally, after her passing. For his final year he needed constant care, which was provided by his daughter Nicole, son Paul, and several caretakers. He passed peacefully in Nicole's home, surrounded by loving family. A memorial gathering will be held at the home of Paul Barchilon, 1005 36 th St. Boulder, on October 19 th , at 12:30 pm.