With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of Jean-Paul Delisle, age 75. He was a man of many talents and excelled in academics (Master's degree/Political Science, University of Ottawa, 1973), athletically (represented Canada for volleyball in the 1970 World Student Games in Turino, Italy) or as a musician on drums. He had a beautiful singing voice. He travelled to Thailand at his expense with the Welsh Choir of HK, all proceeds raised going to Operation Smile.
Jean-Paul's 30 year career path with Foreign Affairs gave him the opportunity to proudly serve & represent Canada in Jamaica, Yugoslavia, Nigeria, France, Egypt & Asia. He was immensely respected throughout by everyone he dealt with for his astute critical thinking & analysis, sense of fairness, sincerity & honesty.
While living in Hong Kong Jean-Paul started on a new & exciting career path as an entrepreneur (& inventor), inventing & winning the Consumer Product of the Year Award. After 7 years, he joined Microsoft ( Asia) as one of their leading forensics expert. Returning to Canada in 2009, he joined Takeda Pharmaceuticals in a similar role as a consultant. He embraced all of his working years with a sense of wonder, curiosity & enjoyment no matter the task at hand. His colleagues describe him as an outstanding professional as well as a wonderful friend & a person of moral strength & integrity.
In retirement, Jean-Paul put in the same amount of zest, seriousness & fun in golf, curling, travelling, cruising & voracious readings. He loved "road trips" of which there were many, always prefering the longer scenic routes.
Most of all, Jean-Paul worshiped & cherished his family. He leaves to grieve his loving wife, Diane (Soulard), his three children & their partners, Eric in Montreal, Julie (Hermann), & Marc-André (Anuli) in Nova Scotia as well as his six grandchildren, Juliette, Léa, Élise, Loïc, late Aviana & Arlo, his four sisters, Suzanne, Claire (Gosson), Denise & Nicole as well as his sisters-in-law, Suzanne Paris, Claudette Mantha.
In Tina Turner's words, to all who loved him, Jean-Paul was "SIMPLY THE BEST".
Cremation has already taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 29, 2023 at Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue Ottawa from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Charitable donations for those who wish to the Ottawa Food Bank in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated.
C'est avec le coeur lourd que nous annonçons le décès soudain de Jean-Paul Delisle, âgé de 75 ans. C'était un homme aux multiples talents, tant sur le plan académique (maîtrise/science politique, Université d'Ottawa, 1973), qu'athlétique (représenta le Canada pour le volleyball aux 1970 World Student Games à Turin, Italie) et musical (batterie). Chantant d'une belle voix, il s'est rendu en Thaïlande à ses frais avec le Welsh Choir de HK afin de lever des fonds pour Operation Smile.
Pendant 30 ans, Jean-Paul a fait carrière aux Affaires étrangères ce qui lui a permis de servir et représenter le Canada avec fierté en Jamaïque, en Yougoslavie, au Nigéria, en France, en Egypte et en Asie (HK). Il était immensément respecté par ses pairs qui appréciaient son esprit critique, son sens de l'équité, sa sincérité et son honnêteté.
Toujours à Hong Kong, Jean-Paul a commencé une nouvelle carrière passionnante d'entrepreneur et d'inventeur qui lui a valu le prix du produit de consommation de l'année. Par la suite, il a travaillé pour Microsoft (Asie) en tant qu'un de leurs principaux experts en criminalistique. Finalement, à son retour au Canada en 2009, il sera conseiller auprès de Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Tout au cours de sa carrière, c'est avec émerveillement, curiosité et plaisir qu'il s'appliquait, qu'importe la tâche à accomplir. Ses ex-collègues le décrivent comme un professionnel exceptionnel, ainsi qu'un merveilleux ami de grande force morale et d'intégrité.
A la retraite, c'est encore avec sérieux, énergie et passion que Jean-Paul s'est adonné au golf, au curling, aux voyages et croisières , ainsi qu'à beaucoup de lecture. Il adorait faire de nombreux "road trips", préférant souvent les routes secondaires.
Par dessus tout, Jean-Paul adorait et chérissait sa famille. Il laisse dans le deuil son épouse bien aimée, Diane (Soulard), ses trois enfants et leurs conjoints, Eric à Montreal, Julie ( Hermann) et Marc-André ( Anuli) à Halifax ainsi que ses 6 petits enfants, Juliette, Léa, Élise, Loïc, feu Aviana et Arlo, ses 4 soeurs, Suzanne, Claire (Gosson), Denise et Nicole ainsi que ses belle-soeurs, Suzanne Paris et Claudette Mantha.
La crémation a déjà eu lieu. Une Célébration de Vie aura lieu le 29 juin 2023 au Centre commémoratif national Beechwood, 280, avenue Beechwood Ottawa de 14 h à 17 h. Au lieu de fleurs, un don à la Banque alimentaire d'Ottawa serait grandement apprécié.
Digital Guestbook
Mimi Hong
Hans-J. Mill
Jean Paul was an important part of the best team I've ever worked in. He was always a team player and would never have let a colleague down.
Hans-J. Mill
Jean Paul was an important part of the best team I've ever worked in. He was always a team player and would never have let a colleague down.
Madeleine Roy Voelkel
You will be very missed
Mona Fahmy
Heartiest condolences to Diane, his family and all his loved ones. Jean Paul is an unforgettable legend indeed.
Suzanne Denise Nicole Delisle
It is heartwarming to see the beautiful tributes to our wonderful brother. The ringing doorbell will always remind us of his gesticulating and tapping on the window to send our poodles into a barking frenzy. They were always so happy to see him. He was the master of the corny jokes..."did you hear the one about....".He was a gentleman and a gentle man. You could depend on him to be there when needed, except when the gas tank was pointed at empty. "Lots of gas in the tank" he would claim much to Diane's consternation. He loved to go on road trips in the area with Diane, resulting in the inevitable stop at a roadside bistro or food truck. Jacques, Jean-Paul, Suzanne and Claire were only 4 years apart. The pranks and shenanigans they pulled kept our parents on their toes. Luckily it was all clean fun, well except for the fake poop in the bed at the Park Hotel in The Hague. We will miss him dreadfully and are honoured to have had him in our lives.
Robert Peck
Deepest condolences to the Délisle family. I served in Lagos, Nigeria, in the years that followed J-P's tenure there as a Foreign Service Officer. He was very helpful to me in offering advice before I left Canada. I would often see his very distinctive signature on Canadian visas. He left a very positive impression. I remember him as a true gentleman and professional.
SUSAN MARCIL
Jean Paul hired me when we lived in Paris. Jean was there on a posting and I studied for the locally engaged Immigration Officer’s exam. He encouraged me and guided me. He was a gentleman that everyone admired. May the love and memories guide you during this sad time.
Matt Gould
Sending all my sympathies and all my love to the whole family xxx
Yvonne Tsang
Dearest Diane and Julie and Marc-Andre, my deepest condolences to all of you and your families. With the passing of Jean-Paul, the world is lesser place…
Sincerest condolences to Diane and family. We had the privilege of curling with J-P and will miss him and his beautiful smile. Louis-Robert Lafleur and Mimi Hong