Michel Gaspard

Michel attended secondary schools in Port Au Prince Haiti. He graduated from L'Ecole de Droit where he received the title of Maitre Michel Gaspard (attorney). In 1961 Michel married his beloved Constance and was proud to become a father when his firstborn arrived. Two years later he departed Haiti, which was experiencing the early upheavals of the Duvalier dictatorship, and emigrated to the newly liberated Congo where he became a professor of French and Latin. There, he developed a lifelong attachment to Central African culture and was greatly influenced by the burgeoning independence movements.

Michel fell in love at first sight with New York's skyscrapers on a visit and was instantly determined to settle there with his growing family. He worked as a teacher and taxi driver while putting himself through school at night to become a social worker.

Michel worked at many trades in order to educate his six children - teacher, social worker, accountant. Throughout triumphs and struggles he maintained a generous disposition and took deep satisfaction from the smallest achievements of his children. His soul was stirred by opera, soccer, a Sunday outing in Central Park, juicy gossip, a fine meal and any good tidings from his beloved country.

Louis Barthol Michel Gaspard died on May 8, 2011. He is survived by his bride of 50 years, his six children, seven grandchildren, 4 sisters, many neieces and nephews and his remarkable mother.