The man who devoted a large part of his life to the Quebec Bridge and its history, Michel L’Hébreux, died Tuesday night at the Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis.
The resident of Saint-Romuald, a great lover of the Quebec Bridge, died of a serious cancer. He was surrounded by his relatives. He had just celebrated his 76th birthday.
JEAN-FRANCOIS DESGAGNES/JOURNAL
Michel L’Hébreux has published several books in 2020, including Curieuses Stories du Pont de Québec.
“His family was very important to him. “It was the mainstay of his life,” said his wife Nicole, still shocked by this hasty farewell.
Michel L’Hébreux has dedicated his life to his family, education and the Quebec Bridge.
Born in Saint-Romuald on May 17, 1947, he was principal for 30 years in several schools on the south coast, near Saint-Nicolas, Charny and Saint-Jean-Chrysostome.
He became interested in the tumultuous history of the world’s longest cantilever bridge and over the years developed it into a passion, beginning with presentations he gave to students at his schools.
JEAN-FRANCOIS DESGAGNES/JOURNAL
Mr L’Hébreux held several conferences on the bridge, as here in 2017 at the Fernand Seguin School in Sainte-Foy.
Real encyclopedia
He was a veritable encyclopedia of the Quebec Bridge. Endowed with a phenomenal memory, he could cite a statistic or a precise date on its history, or tell dozens of anecdotes about the construction of this monument in the Quebec region.
He has also written several books on the subject, given more than 2,000 lectures, and amassed an impressive collection of artifacts related to the bridge. Donors from all over the world provided him with pieces or documents that enriched his collection.
After long campaigning for the historic building to be repainted and better maintained, he was unable to achieve any concrete results in his lifetime.
Proud
He had slowed down his activities for a few months as his health deteriorated. “It’s a big day full of emotions,” said his wife. His three daughters, Josée, Marie-Pierre and Pascale, and his seven grandchildren, of whom he was proud, accompanied him in his final moments.
The mayor of Lévis, Gilles Lehouillier, contacted him in recent days and expressed his intention to make him an honorary citizen of the city.
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