I woke up to the sad news this morning that Gaetan Benoit died about a week ago.
In 1998 I went back to university as a mature student to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher. I was in my 40s then. I surmised that at some point I would have to teach math and since I had been mediocre at it in my younger years, thought it a good idea to upgrade my math skills by pursuing a math minor. This required taking several math classes, one of which was Euclidean Geometry, a geometry class on steroids and on computer to boot. At that time I barely knew how to turn on a computer, or how to use any of its programs, or how to save anything on it. Things I had worked on very hard and for a long time kept disappearing over and over again. I was out of my league. So I panicked...big time!! Luckily the prof allowed us to work together for our final project. I looked around the classroom: some fellow students were friendly yes, but working together, um, no. Some downright avoided me like the plague. And then there was Gaetan, who noticed my panic-stricken face, understood my predicament and without reservation took me under his wing. There is no doubt in my mind that I passed the course because of his help. Gaetan was always helping someone. That's just how he was. He started working at CBC Regina Radio Canada during his university years and later moved on to CBC Edmonton.
I am very saddened by the news of his death. He was such a bright light. It's a big loss for us all and especially for the francophone community. He died being roughly our son's age, at 43, from inoperable brain cancer.
Adieu Gaetan! Merci beaucoup pour tout ton aide! Que Dieu et les anges te benissent et t'embrassent! And our sincere condolences to his girlfriend and to the family!
No comments:
Post a Comment