La famille de Michel
Je suis sans mots. J'ai connu Michel à l'école secondaire et il était déjà spécial. Quel grand homme, quelle belle âme. Mes plus sincères condoléances.
ALARCON, Michel J.
1955 - 2022
Michel J Alarcon, Age 67 of Rideau Lakes
June 19, 1955 - Sept 20, 2022
Born in 1955 in Morocco, predeceased by parents Joseph and Antoinette Alarcon, several brothers & sister Anne-Marie and survived by nephews Charly and François, survived by sister Sandrine and husband Jacques, nephews Anthony and Felix.
Married in France to the love of his life Carol Belanger, survived by children Nicolas and Claire, Terry Moore and wife Erika Beresford-Kroeger, and Kate and husband Oualid Moussouni and grand-children Oscar and Jasper. Survived by aunts Chantal and Norbert Gil of France and Paule Rando of Morocco, and cousins in France and Spain.
He was educated in Morocco, France, California (where his nickname ‘Mike’ emerged), and Quebec. Recognized for his many aptitudes at an early age, Michel enjoyed his studies and the rewards they brought. As the ‘new kid’ in class, Michel made it his mission to foster comradery and inclusion of the many individuals who crossed his varied paths, and this continued into his adult life with his broad acceptance for other’s cultures and beliefs.
Michel attended Pius IX high school in Montreal where he met his lifelong friend Mario Coniglio, and together they enjoyed over 50 years of shared hunting and fishing adventures. Lifelong friends also include Brian Heinz as well as his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers from his studies at McGill University.
Michel was a devoted lifelong learner whether exceling at courses related to work to enjoying a variety of courses online. His most recent achievement was to build for his wife a large glass greenhouse overlooking the back pond from repurposed materials during the pandemic. Michel was well known for his regular building and improving of duck blinds, as well as all types of boats, but especially those used for hunting and fishing.
Michel’s broad resume included work and leadership experience in IT, Healthcare, and the Airline industry, among others. His enthusiasm championed individuals and the companies he worked for. His entrepreneurial spirit was untameable – that’s where his heart was - and it spawned several companies focusing on vertical farming, water quality and nutraceuticals. He cultivated a particular interest in projects that could improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples. He was a proud partner with 4Skies which nurtured his spiritual journey while they cultivated projects together.
Michel and his wife Carol were patrons of the arts especially enjoying the NAC and NAG in Ottawa as well as many smaller theatre productions. Music featured highly in his daily life and his love of Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Tragically Hip and a genre-spanning appreciation for music characterized his mixed tapes on trips to Florida. His musical aptitude included guitar, violin and he especially appreciated the harmonica and playing it with his father. His endless replay of popular music lifted him to joy but also elicited the sighs and groans from his family who attempted to wrestle his phone away! His unique, expressive, and uninhibited dancing style was the envy of many men and caught the notice of women who admired a husband so willing to freestyle with his wife!
Michel greatly enjoyed discovering the lakes and hiking trails of Eastern Ontario with his wife. He loved a good campfire and camping and relished the opportunity to tell his favourite campfire stories. He was appreciated for the fun and leadership he brought to Boy Scouts Canada and also to coaching hockey.
Michel proudly shared his Mediterranean roots with others from food and wine appreciation he was raised with, to his much-loved licorice that went everywhere with him.
More an outdoorsman than a sports fan, Michel enjoyed a challenge and would pick up sports or a rousing game of backyard croquet with aplomb.
Michel was an animal lover – he cared for many pets in his life. His beloved dog Carlos predeceased him by one month. No doubt they are sitting together in a comfy reclining chair in heaven, while Michel watches over his cherished family and friends.
A romantic poet he would pen his loves and passions to paper. A favourite quote was, “Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Taken” by Oscar Wilde. Three words that sum up his life appear on a favourite t-shirt: Dad – the man, the myth, and the legend.
Michel touched many lives over his lifetime, in enduring and profound ways. We are all the better for having known him.
A Memorial/Celebration of Life Come-and-Go will be held on October 29th from 1-4pm at the Foley Mountain Conservation Area Interpretive Centre near Westport with a short ceremony at 3pm. Memorial donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
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