Jacques Guerlin de Guer, a professor of French in Hamilton's Junior Year in France program in Biarritz from 1957 to 1987, died on July 8, 2006 at the age of 90.
A charter member of the teaching staff in Biarritz when the program was founded in 1957 by Marcel Moraud of Hamilton, Jacques originally taught civilization then moved on to conversation classes. He also served as guide for the yearly groups of Hamilton students, introducing them on field trips to the many treasures of the Basque country in southwestern France. From 1961 to 1986, he and his wife, Christiane, hosted students in their home. For her part, Christiane oversaw the placement of students in Biarritz homes—always an important part of their linguistic and cultural experience—from 1970 until her own retirement in 1994. The two of them spent a summer at Hamilton in 1964 at the National Defense Education act (N.D.E.A.) French Institute, in which they taught French language and culture courses.
Generations of students remember the kindness, warmth, and generosity of Jacques and Christiane Guerlin de Guer, and many of them, especially those who stayed with them in their home, became virtual family members. Likewise, for Jacques and Christiane, Hamilton College was an integral part of their lives, and they always demonstrated the utmost devotion to it. Jacques is survived by Christiane, his loving wife of 64 years.
