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Michel POIRIER Obituary
Passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the age of 81. Son of the late Raymond George Poirier and the late Marie Louise Germaine Morin. Husband of the late Linda Blackwell. He leaves behind his brother Gilbert Poirier, his step-daughters Laurie-Catherine Wright and Gillian Wright, many grand step-children and friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, April 15, 2013 at 1 pm at Racine, Robert & Gauthier Beauchamp Funeral Home Chapel (180 Montreal Rd, Ottawa). The family will receive condolences from 12:30 pm at the funeral home.
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16 Entries
Andrée Bichon
April 13, 2014
Just found out, almost a year later. Always enjoyed Michel's bright mind, his passion for physics, his great sense of humor, his incredible culture and knowledge. He knew how to talk about his travels around the world : making them absolutely captivating with his love of adventure, landscapes and people. Peace be with him and his family.
Julian Sternberg
April 27, 2013
Mike rented our spare room in Manchester while he studied Physics at the University, and he brought a whole new cosmopolitan atmosphere into our limited post-war household while I was a teenager. In many ways he influenced my subsequent life, which I only came to appreciate much later. He gave me an enthusiasm for independent travel to strange countries. We spent hours playing the card game "crapette" and arguing about its rules. In 1967 I spent a Summer in Canada with his help; he found me a temporary job, he showed me Ottawa, and he lent me his nice red Triumph Spitfire. Later on we would have esoteric scientific discussions, for example about the second law of thermodynamics or philosophy of science. It was lucky that I was able to meet him again in 2008, just before his decline. I will always remember with gratitude the extent to which he influenced our family.
John James
April 20, 2013
I met Mike in 1961 in Manchester. He was on his way to Ethiopia where he had taken a teaching position. We never looked back. He came with me as guide, counsellor and friend on expeditions in Mexico, Agades(Niger) and Java, and his skills were invaluable. He did his best to teach me cross-country skiing and I tried my best to teach him sailing. Neither of us succeeded but it was great just trying. We supported each other through one or two difficult personal episodes and we never once stopped arguing. He was one of the world's great travellers and my truest friend.
Ximena Ibanez-Kelly
April 15, 2013
We loved Mike dearly and we will miss him.
He was my husband´s closest friend and in many ways he was like a second father to my children, Diego and Marcela Kelly, after Percy´s departure.
We cherish the memories of the times we spent with him and Linda....so many times during so many years; first in Cumberland, later in Ottawa, at the cottage on the island, in PEI and during their visit to Chile.
Bon voyage, Michel!
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April 15, 2013
Mike was a true original. It was always interesting to have a conversation with him and listen to his wit and anarchic good sense. His travel tales were a wonder and awaited with anticipation by those who shared a table with him at the Lees Avenue cafeteria after the summer break. I also have a vivid memory of him playing Go - just the kind of game he enjoyed. My sincere condolences to his family.
Jennifer Waterman
April 15, 2013
April 15, 2013
April 15, 2013
Hilary Sternberg
April 15, 2013
Michel was one of the Sternberg family's oldest friends. My memories go back all the way to my teenage years when he was a debonair 'mature student' with my father Robert at Manchester University. Always entertaining, often enjoyably argumentative and with a most original and enquiring mind; and a true 'bon viveur'. I have lost a loyal and generous friend.
Susann Buhr
April 14, 2013
Mike was my father's closest friend,and someone who I always looked forward to see. He always had a great story. A true adventurer. Salut,Mike.
Daniel James
April 14, 2013
Very sorry to hear of Michel's passing. I remember (among many other things) arriving with him at Semarang (north coast of Java) at 3am and being amazed at his ability to rustle up accommodation and dinner, neither of speaking a word of Indonesian; or arguing with him over the answers in Trivial Pursuit while sitting in the cockpit of a small boat at sea in the Atlantic (55 30 North, 06 15 West)... Au revoir Michel.
Cynthia Mannion
April 13, 2013
Mike Poirier was a good family friend for many years. He was a world traveller and white water enthusiast with my father Dick Mannion. Mike was amost interesting conversationlist, witty and opinionated. As children we would listen to tales of Ethiopia and Africa one day and ski Mont Ste Marie with Mike and Dad the next. Later on, Mike was close to Cathie,Dad and Liam. We would see him frequently at family events. Mike believed in education and came to my graduation celebration ten years ago with a circlet of small roses and ivey symbolizing a laurel crown. He will be very much missed.
April 10, 2013
I was a colleague of Michel's at Algonquin College (English Department). I always appreciated Michel's seriousness about science and academic rigour while maintaining the human touch. I have excellent memories of our conversations in the staff cafeteria which were always as enriching as they were varied. My sincere condolences to his family.
Kay Pepermans (Ottawa, ON)
Doreen Larsen Riedel
April 10, 2013
Gilbert, I met Michel at Carleton just after he returned from Manchester, and came to know him and his friends from those times quite well. I learned a lot about the world from him and there will always be a place for him in my heart.
Peter Bowen Jerry Glover
April 10, 2013
We always enjoyed Michel's visits to our village in the back of beyond - just his sort of place, of course. Not that we could ever hold on to him for long - always itching to be somewhere else, moving on, eager to see what lay over the next horizon.
He was an original - the world is a smaller place without him in it.
Gillian Wright
April 10, 2013
Sincere condolences to Gilbert on the loss of your brother Michel. I am sure he is now on some great adventure travelling around the world.
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180 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1L1B4
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