Patricia Le Roux: 16th September 1958–15th October 2011

It is one of the hardest things to write: an obituary for a good colleague and dear friend, while everything inside me revolts against the fact that she was taken away in the midst of a ‘whirlwind life’, full of interest in the world and love for the people around her. This is not about a life which has been ‘fulfilled’ – if ever a life can be – but a rupture in a process of discovery and enjoyment of a rich existence. And that is maybe the only way one can bring some sense of reconciliation to what happened to Patricia: she has really made several dimensions flourish in her and her family and friends: a contagious yet subtle warmth, music, child care, homeopathy, participation in orthodox medicine and European medical politics. Accompanied by a keen interest in her family’s multicultural history and an expertise in several languages which flowed from this heritage, and in navigating, on the waters of the sea as well between the people who were dear to her and shared her private and professional life.

Words are inadequate to give form to our sensations when we heard of the accident in the streets of Paris where she was hit by a scooter on the evening of 15 October. A few hours afterwards she lost consciousness and died in the hospital 2 days later following an intracranial haemorrhage. An evening in the course of her life, after attending one of the innumerable congresses which she followed all with an almost superhuman energy – but as a colleague said, she was “hyperactive dans la calme”.

This is a remarkable expression as it reveals one of her secrets: born with a sharp mind and a witty esprit, she managed to switch in a few seconds between the most distant topics, only possible by an inner focus and calmness.

This was particularly so when I met her the last time at her home in Marseille, in August last year: Her husband Dominique had invited some poets and writers from an exchange project with Eastern Europe. She was about to leave – but not at all busy packing her suitcases! – for a flight to Japan for a homeopathy meeting, after having cooked a refreshing lunch which we enjoyed under a shadowy tree, protecting us from a merciless Marseille sun, while her children and a few friends were splashing in the tiny swimming pool.

And in these few hours we still found the time to wander through the house and enjoying the introversion of the music room where her flute, several string instruments and a clavichord silently witnessed of the “calme” – to which she inevitably addressed in order to lead this dynamic and sometimes hectic life.

“Those who the gods love, are early taken by them” is the ancient Greek proverb I must confess we are at odds with the gods… May we take an example and inspiration from her rare combination of activity and calmness – the mélange which made her so agreeable a companion, mother, friend and colleague. We are with her loved ones who have to live every day with this tremendous loss. We wish them the wisdom to accept the seemingly unacceptable. Her physical existence has found rest in the family grave at the cemetery of Rochegude, Drome. May her soul continue its course.