Origins & Childhood
Dad's hair color as a child
What is blond
Who is dad's best engineering friend?
Who is Bill Nye
How many languages does dad speak?
4: French, English, German, and some Chinese
Dad's favorite author
Tom Clancy
Dad's favorite activity at the Cormier
sailing
The candy his birth town is known for
What is "les betises de Cambrai"
What did he work on first: sand or snow?
What is snow
Name five countries where he has lived.
USA, France, China, Vietnam, Netherlands/Holland
His favorite condiment
Mayonnaise or mustard
The instrument he played in his college band
Bass guitar
The woman that had a lot of influence on him as a child
Who is Madame Londres
Why did he go to Stanford?
Because he had a scholarship to attend from the Rotary Club
The country that has dad's favorite food
Germany
Three things he is never without, except perhaps when sleeping?
His coat, his watch, his phone, his glasses
The song Dad and mom dance to the most.
MacArthur Park, by Donna Summer (1978)
The names of his two grandmothers
What is Lucie and Helene.
Name both halls where he had an office at Cornell during his tenure.
What is Grumman and Upson Hall
Name eight countries that he has traveled to.
Options: Germany, France, Madagascar, Canada, China, Vietnam, any country in Benelux, Switzerland, Austria, Corsica, Italy, Tanzania, Mauritania, Qatar
Three things Dad dislikes the most
Being late, things not being planned in advance, the sun, people being political/not following the science, noise when he is sleeping, or trying to sleep, washing dishes without rubber gloves. Things not being in their place, untidy kitchen , Waste food.
Three dishes that Dad can cook without a recipe
souffle, banane flambee, sandwich, jardinière de légumes
Name two cities he lived in as a child-youth
Cambrai, Villeneuve d’Ascq, Croix, Orléans
What classes did he teach most consistently while at Cornell?
MAE 2250 (undergrad) where students learn to machine and build a lamp and combustion (grad)
The reason became an American citizen
Because he had a grant from NASA and it was easier to apply for additional funds, and access documents if he was an American citizen.
OR
He was afraid that with time and unpredictable political developments, his Social Security benefits might be withheld or withdrawn all together when retiring.
Name three expressions that he uses a lot.
Dis-donc!; Ca alors!; Par ici la bonne soupe! En voiture, Simone!
Name three of his favorite activities/hobbies.
Biking, sailing, walking/hiking, working, doing dishes, traveling (conferences)