Obituary of Jacques Courtines

Jacques Courtines: American-French Theater Producer and Arts and Craft Gallerist, Dies at 78 Jacques Paul Olivier Courtines, 78, of New York City, died Sunday, April 5, 2020 in Bayside, Queens. Jacques is survived by Carol, his wife of 55 years; two daughters, Gilliane Philip-Courtines and Marielle Liondi Courtines, and three sons, Michel-Alexis (Mitch) Courtines, Alain-Gabriel Courtines and Yves-Marc Courtines. He also leaves behind five sons and daughters-in-law, Michel Philip, Claudio Liondi, Erin Courtines, Yolanda Courtines, and Alyse Courtines; a sister, Alix Guyader, and brother, Francois Courtines; fourteen grand-children, Gabrielle Philip, Elisa Philip, Alexiane Philip, Milena Philip, Alain-Christian Courtines, Annalise Courtines, Alexandre-Charles Courtines, Paul-Emmanuel Courtines, Stéphane-Loïc Courtines, Alizé Courtines, Colette Courtines, Florencia Liondi, Letizia Liondi, Delphine Liondi; and a number cousins, nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his sister, Aude-Monique Romano Courtines. Jacques was born on January 27, 1943 to Leo Pierre Courtines, a Professor of Romance Languages at Queens College, a journalist and literary critic, and Ida Courtines, a French teacher. He grew up bilingual, speaking both English and French, with his parents and three siblings in New York City. He studied at the Lycée Francais de New York and then Hunter College, where he met his lifelong companion, Carol Hofmann. Jacques and Carol borrowed a convertible in October of 1964 and eloped in Baltimore, Maryland. Jacques’ work at the French Embassy of New York’s Office of French Cultural Services early in his career led him on to a 15-year career as a producer of French theater productions staged across the United States with well-known French thespians (la Comédie Française, le Tréteau de Paris, la Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, amongst others). Alongside this, he also managed the world-renowned jazz ensemble, the Jacques Loussier Trio, for a period. This was a continuation of a long love affair with the arts and artisans, that began early in his life when as a high school student he had a script produced into an I Love Lucy episode. A devoted family man, he declined to act as the manager of other famous artists or to assume the role of Director of the Société des Bains de Mer of Monaco. He spent the second half of his working career as the co-owner and manager of a well-known arts and crafts gallery, Performers Outlet, located on the upper east side of New York City. A committed family man, epicurean and friend to many, Jacques was blessed with a keen intellect with a particular interest in politics and economics, a love for travel, and a grace and a charm that allowed him to engage with individuals of all backgrounds. He will also be remembered as a fiercely proud man who battled multiple sclerosis from the age of 25 with an extraordinary determination. A Memorial will be conducted at a future date. In the interim, friends may visit https://glascottfuneralhome.com/tribute/current-services/index.html. A brief burial ceremony will be held at 9:30 AM on April 13, 2020 at Flushing Cemetery in New York City. Contributions in his name may be made to https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Events/HOM-General?pxfid=623963&fr_id=7541&pg=fund in the US or https://www.arsep.org/fr/faire-un-don/ in France.