Passing of Roget Lacour

[cec1]

. . . Roget, with Brook, Lacour founded Sibarth, from which our Forum host, WIMCO, emerged. I'm not sure exactly when the corporate structure came into being, but Wendy and I first visited SBH in 1978, with a villa arrangement made for us by Brook & Roget on the St. Jean hillside. At the time, Roget & Brook, who met at Christmas 1974, had a small boutique, "La Caleche," at the location which now is "25 Quarter." The story of Brook and Roget embarking on their newlywed villa rental adventure is beautifully told in an essay written by Brook in "Case et Cuisine," for those who happen to have the book. It was from La Caleche that one of the island's great stories of patronage to the island began.

In the "winter of old age," St. Barths has lost another of its royal Lions.

 

[elgreaux]

Here's a little more of their story: http://www.sibarthrealestate.com/sibarthrealestate/success-story

very sad to see the old guard disappearing as Dennis has noted. Roger and Brook were the original power couple in St Barth...

 

[KevinS]

I'm saddened to read this. The Lacours had an immense influence on all of us being able to visit St Barth. They opened the door.

 

[LuckyKid]

Thanks for posting this Dennis. I'm sorry to hear of Roger's passing.

Roger was the broker when my parents bought their Vitet house in the mid-70s. He and Brook helped them get acclimated and were good friends for many years. Amazing to think of the many changes to the island in the roughly 40 years that Roger and Brook Lacour were together.

 

[julianne]

Thank you, Dennis. A sad passing indeed. And his last few years were tough ones with Brook's condition and his own deteriorating health. Brook and Roger certainly put SiBarth on the map. Always enjoyed their fun Carnaval party in the courtyard behind their office. May he RIP.

 

[Eve]

Wasn't she a classmate of Bill Clinton?

 

[ChasBidd]

Roget was the manager (owner?) of Village St. Jean in 1968. My family stayed there for several visits while 1) Our land was purchased and 2) While the house was under original construction.

 

[elgreaux]

Roget was the manager (owner?) of Village St. Jean in 1968. My family stayed there for several visits while 1) Our land was purchased and 2) While the house was under original construction.

Roger's sister Gaby was married to Andre Charneau, the original owner of Village St Jean, so Roger may have well worked there or managed it... Gaby still lives right next to the hotel and her children now run it, Bertrand and Catherine...

 

[LuckyKid]

I found an interesting Charneau family story and some nice old photos on the Village St Jean website.

Roger did indeed manage the hotel in the early days.

http://levillagestbarth.com/family-story/

 

[cec1]

Thanks, Peter . . . nice telling of the story.

 

[LuckyKid]

Great article about Roger in this weeks St Barth Weekly, no. 389. http://www.stbarthweekly.com

Learned many things I did not know including the island's Economic Liaison Committee (CLE), it's role in St Barth becoming a COM, and Roger's role. Good work.