French general oversaw restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
PARIS — The decorated French general in charge of the ambitious, big-budget restoration of fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Jean-Louis Georgelin, has died. He was 74.
President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute last weekend to one of France’s “greatest soldiers, greatest servants,” who “stone by stone, was restoring the wounded beauty” of Notre Dame. Before being pulled from retirement to oversee the cathedral reconstruction, Mr. Georgelin previously served as chief of France’s military general staff, overseeing operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans and beyond.
Citing the regional prosecutor, local news reports said Mr. Georgelin died while hiking in the Pyrenees, likely in an accident. The mountain rescue service in the Ariege region said a body was found Aug. 18 near the village of Bordes-Uchentein.
Macron said in a statement that Mr. Georgelin died in the mountains, reflecting “a life always turned toward the summits.” The statement did not provide details.
Born Aug. 30, 1948, Mr. Georgelin attended the prestigious Saint-Cyr military high school before serving in infantry and parachute regiments and in military intelligence. He studied at the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, and went on
to become personal military chief to late President Jacques Chirac, and then chief of staff of the French military from 20062010.
Soon after the 2019 fire that toppled the spire of Notre Dame and consumed its timber-and-lead roof, Macron named Mr. Georgelin to lead the restoration work. Artisans
around France are using medieval materials and methods to rebuild the Gothic landmark.
Macron lamented that “Gen. Georgelin will never see the reopening of Notre Dame with his own eyes,” but added that when it reopens on Dec. 8, 2024, ‘’he will be present with us.’’