JACQUES COLLIN

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JACQUES COLLIN Teacher and Architect May 20, 1927 - January 3, 2000 Jacques was born to Lucienne and Louis Collin on May 20, 1927 in Courbevoie, France. The youngest of four sons, he is survived in France by his brothers, Bernard (Simone), Olivier (Renee) and Yves (Nicole), and their children, Genevieve, Virginie, Roger, Thierry and Bernard. His Winnipeg family includes Karen Collin, his former wife and dear friend; her sister Judy Kendle and husband John; and nephews and niece, John Stephen Kendle (Donna Carreiro), Andrew Kendle and Nancy Kendle (Chris Carmichael). Jacques began his architectural studies at age 21 at the Ecole National des Beaux-Arts, Section Architecture in 1948 in Paris. He received a degree from LInstitute dUrbanisme de Paris: Eleve, in 1954 and Architecte Diplome from Ecole National Superieure des Beaux-Arts in 1956. He was logiste, Grand Prix de Rome, in 1959, a registered architect in both France and Canada and was a member of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada. Jacques joined the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba in 1964 from the University of Texas. He had also taught at Oklahoma State University and the University of Illinois. At the U of M, he moved from assistant to associate to full professor over the course of eight years and remained in the latter post until his retirement in 1995. As a teacher he proved both popular and demanding, never wavering in his devotion to his students and his discipline. In 1989 he was honoured with the U of M Graduate Students Association award for excellence in graduate teaching. In 1964 he received a similar award at the University of Texas. Jacques was active within his department and was a tremendous source of inspiration and friendship for his colleagues. Jacques was a designer of renown, working in every scale and type, from furniture to theatre sets, urban planning to building design. In France, he worked on the national parliament of Cambodia, and his Canadian work includes the Cistercian Monastery at Holland, Manitoba (1975), and many projects done as a consultant with Smith Carter Partners, including the Air Canada Building in Winnipeg (1983) and hospital works in London, Ontario, and in St. Boniface. Jacques shining jewel, though, was his home in Fort Garry, an idyllic place overlooking the Red River which has been described as a "dynamic and daring... compression of a prairie farmstead into an urban lot". In life, as in his work, Jacques could be gruff, even rude, but he was always passionate and sensitive. His nieces and nephews will always remember the glint in his eye, his mischievous grin and the booming voice which masked his soft touch. He taught us all to appreciate and treasure beauty. During his illness, Jacques received many visits and messages from colleagues and students from all over the world. In October, the students of the RAIC Syllabus, Manitoba chapter, presented him with a plaque "honouring his tireless dedication of more than 20 years". Jacques will be sorely missed by his faithful friends Rory Fonseca, Ed Epp, Guy Prefontaine, Claude and Yoshiko DeForest and daughter Leah, Gopalkrishna and Marianne, Myrna Lo, Bruce Dexter and Haris Wijayasiri - all of whom played a part in sustaining him during his illness. A private burial will take place in St. Vital Cemetery on January 6. At Jacques request, there will be no formal funeral. Family, friends, colleagues and students are invited to "une reunion simple" at 77 DArcy Drive at 2:00 p.m., January 9. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 100 Olivia St., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, or the charity of your choice. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 05, 2000