Those of us gathered to wish a fond farewell to Louie Marchand on Saturday morning were a mixture of former students and colleagues from Bemidji State University.

“He was a fun fellow and I was in a couple of his early plays in the leaky ceiling Hagg Sauer Hall,” said Robert Melchoir. “It was a fun time at Bemidji State in the late 60s into the 1970s, we played cards together and it was a era of many friendships (throughout the different departments).”

Another professor emeritus, Evan Hazard, also said that “he (Louie) was a delightful guy who looked on the bright side of life. He was very good for the drama department partly because he was so protective of his students. My wife, Elaine, grew under his direction.”

A former student of his during the 1970’s also agreed that Marchand was very protective of his students and proud of their accomplishments in the halcyon days of humanities at BSU. Becky Leuben, who graduated with a degree in English, Music and Theater Production, although admitting that she and Marchand did not get along well during her undergraduate years, saw that he was a cheerleader for his former and present students.

“The drama department was very busy and productive; Louie, started with traveling children’s shows and reader’s theater back in the 70’s,” said Leuben. “He could be a lot of fun and had a good sense of humor that he spread around in being supportive of his students. I am very deeply appreciative being nominated by him for Friend of the Arts.”

Personally, we met Marchand about two months after moving to Bemidji. We read in the Pioneer that there was a group of seniors meeting at the Headwaters School of Music for a lecture series. We attended and were approached by Marchand to join the board because they needed new blood; that was 17 years ago come November. His smile was so engaging that it was difficult to turn down a man who had given so much of himself to the wellbeing of BSU’s drama department. That day, he was wearing a pair of new jeans and sported the seam down the front, something he was very proud—remembering that is easy because we all laughed. We always found him to be generous in spirit and shared his thoughts easily but as time went on he was unable to hear the talks and fell away from attending this group of seniors (Adventures in Lifelong Learning). The current chair has been at the helm since state funding faded away.

Louis Marchand

We appreciate the picture accompanying the obituary because it is the Louie we knew; smiling, sharing, and offering his opinion and expertise in theater and life in general.

One time, he offered me a book to read that his daughter gave to him about Victorian theater costumes, etc. He did not go gentle into that good night, and we hope to meet on the other side and enjoy his genuine self.

Our sympathy goes to his family and hope that the years have made a strong foundation for loving remembrances.