Over the past several days, many have paid tribute to the late Paul Desmarais Sr. He was repeatedly praised for his remarkable business achievements, his philanthropic leadership and his undeniable success as a builder. The accolades are well deserved and come from near and far, including friends and neighbours from around the Charlevoix region where he lived.

I did not know Mr. Desmarais personally, but I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times at business and social events, and I was always impressed with how cordial and unpretentious he was. Despite his tremendous influence in business, political and cultural circles, this exceptional man remained incredibly approachable, friendly and very human. An extraordinary personality, as the glowing tributes attest.

It is often said that the true measure of a successful life is in what we leave behind. In Mr. Desmarais’s case, the impact he made will endure beyond his lifetime. He chaired the first three joint fundraising campaigns for HEC Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and Université de Montréal, and his son Paul Jr.’s wife, Hélène, is following in his philanthropic footsteps by co-chairing the current Campus Montréal fundraising campaign. Moreover, Desmarais Sr.’s wife and children are deeply involved in philanthropic causes, a clear indication that they share his values of commitment and generosity.

Present and future generations need to know that Paul Desmarais Sr. had very humble beginnings and that he suffered setbacks and losses but found ways to overcome them. In the face of adversity, he displayed courage and strength of character. Above all, he was a man of conviction who never thought twice about defending his ideas, even if they went against current trends.

Every time I think of Desmarais Sr., this quote by American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to mind:

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.

For all that he has bequeathed to society, it can be safely said that Paul Desmarais Sr. had a successful life.

Photography by Michel Gravel/La Presse