Jean Carrard: 18.1.1919 - 15. 2.2008
Born in Baden, Jean attended elementary school and gymnasium in Zürich where his family had moved. Thanks to his mother, French was spoken at home, and of course German at school, but this bilingualism did not cause Jean any difficulties.
He studied natural sciences at the University of Lausanne and then became responsible for the training of apprentices in the large Dubied factory in Couvet. During the many years following his departure, he maintained close contact with his former apprentices until the end of his life (see the contribution of J. Kaufmann).
When the Caux center opened in 1946, Jean devoted his capacities to it with joy and conviction. It would be impossible to relate here all that he undertook in the context of moral rearmament, first alone and then with Emmina, in Switzerland and throughout the world.
I would like to mention two important aspects of his work: the first is that Jean devoted a great deal of his time to the problems of human relations in industry (see Jacky Brandt's contribution on this subject). As for the second highlight, it is the terms reconciliation, dialogue and change that come to mind. During a visit to Beirut, Jean met the Swiss consul in Lebanon. The latter pointed out to Jean that the dark clouds gathering over the Swiss Jura represented a real threat to the peace and unity of the country. He indirectly suggested that Jean do something about the situation.
The Carrards heard this message and also became involved in the Jura. This resulted in intense teamwork with people from all walks of life. Then it was the South Tyrol, which was also experiencing years of conflict at that time. Jean and Emmina have kept in touch with the people they met in the Jura and Tyrol to this day.
Jacky Brandt, Bulle: Already in the fifties, Jean maintained friendly relations with my parents; he used to come and "say hello" to my father in his forge in Bulle, while he was in the region on military service.
Afterwards, he continued to keep in touch with our family, coming with Emmina to find us at home or at the office. It was often just a brief visit, sometimes even unannounced, but one that we appreciated.
He used to tell us about his visits to Bolzano, with his acquaintances and friends from two different cultures in Alto Adige who had found common ground and reconciliation after their stay in Caux. Jean used to go there frequently from Lavin, Emmina's native land, where they spent their vacations. He also spoke to me about his concerns with the Jura people at a time when the struggle for the independence of the Jura was in full swing. In order to help find a solution to this problem, both of them had taken up residence in Moutier for some time.
Through these encounters, we became true friends, even if Jean was demanding in his search for sincerity in the face of evil or equivocal attitudes! With Jean, we always went straight to the point! We could tell each other everything in respect and intimacy, even when it was sometimes embarrassing!
His experiences as a young executive in the Dubied company in Couvet had led him to love an employee as much as an industrialist. Jean encouraged me as a boss to make decisions in obedience to my conscience. Even though these decisions were sometimes difficult to implement, they found unexpected and lasting solutions in retrospect.
Jean had a vision of service for the economy which, beyond its material role, had to incite employers and trade unionists to take into account the needs of the human being and of the community. Above all, he was concerned about social peace and integrity in the country. He was "present" for meetings to reflect on these issues. Jean demonstrated great loyalty and his willingness to put himself in people's shoes, sometimes with a simple word.
Josef Kaufmann, Gingins: Reflections of a former apprentice: Many memories of Jean and experiences with him come back to me. Jean as an apprentice master who taught us how to handle the file and his way of seeking contact with the apprentices even outside working hours. Our initial reluctance disappeared when we realized how much Jean was committed to us with the factory management. We owe him a lot: gym hours, "school runs", recreation evenings to complement these excursions, discussion circles at the Foyer Dubied. He sowed a lot, but he was also able to witness the fruits of his work according to the motto he had adopted: "Look for what is right and not for who is right".
Some of us were able to go on long weekend excursions in the mountains with Jean, and this gave us the opportunity to get to know him better. All of his "apples" passed the final apprenticeship exams and we always kept in touch with Jean. We saw each other every five years, on the occasion of his birthday. According to his wishes we will continue even without him. The next meeting will be on January 17, 2009 (Jean would have been 90 years old, translator's note). We will miss not only John, but also many other colleagues whom God has called to Himself.
Philippe Odier, Lyon: In the late 1970s, Jean had a few friends whose children, then entering their teens, had decided that Caux, more than a conference center, was a great place to experiment with the 400 knocks. I was one of them. Etienne Piguet was another.
Jean then had the inspired idea of bringing together two of his passions: on the one hand the mountains and on the other hand the transmission of knowledge and a message to others, in order to take these young people to spend a week in the Valais, learning the techniques of mountaineering as well as the lessons of life. The experience was so successful that sixteen more of these camps followed, for fourteen consecutive years. Almost a hundred young people from more than ten different nationalities have tried the experience. A team was formed around Jean, with Philippe Lasserre, Jacques Henri, Andrew Stallybrass, and many more occasional ones. Over time, Etienne Piguet and I went from being participants to being instructors and organizers... as well as friends of Jean. And such a friendship, almost two generations apart, is something rare and precious, even if it meant sometimes receiving a phone call from Jean on a Sunday morning at 7am, or rather at 0700!
Almost twenty years have passed since the last of these camps. Magical names still resound in my memory, Dent Blanche, Mont Blanc de Cheillon, Quille du Diable, Schildkrötegrätli! The circumstances of life have taken me away from the summits, but certainly not from the love of the mountains, nor from the love of teaching. Is it a coincidence that Etienne and I both became teachers? Jean did not believe in chance...
Jean's first conviction was to give these young people the feeling of a meaning to their lives, through effort and discipline but also through friendship and sharing. And today I think of my two sons, Daniel and David. The older one is almost as old as I was when I started hiking with Jean. And I think if I can pass on even a fraction of what Jean has given each of us over the years, then I will be proud.
Monique Chaurand, Montpellier: Last August, I was in Caux one afternoon, sitting on a bench halfway up the large terrace...I was taking a break.
Suddenly I see a male figure coming up, the step is regular, it is that of a mountain man ... he approaches quietly, and it is Jean Carrard. He greets me warmly and asks me if he can sit down for a moment. After some mutual news, the conversation turns to the chapter that concerns us: the art of aging! With simplicity, Jean evokes his difficulties, and with humor his discoveries and joys. His great transparency towards himself impresses me, our reflections follow naturally, once again ...
His fiery personality radiated a certain inner peace. He said goodbye and wished me a safe journey. I was amazed; his faith was still there, with the daily experience of personal change. And his care for others will remain an unforgettable gift in my life.
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