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Michel Iriart passed away yesterday in Buenos Aires where he was member since the age of three of the French Basque Club or Iparraldeko Euskal Etxea, as it is called latelly. He served on the board of the institution, was a former president of the Club and since 2008 an honorary member.  He was a member of the club’s “old guard” of the CVF.  Iriart was born in Buenos Aires in 1920 and would have been 95 next February. 

Buenos Aires, Argentina.   Michel Iriart passed away on Monday, December 8 in the morning and the wake was held at the Casa Velatoria Lazaro Costa on O’Higgings 2848.  The funeral procession will begin today at 9am at the Pilar Memorial.

We are including an article here, by Norma Rios, Iparraldeko Euskal Etxea secretary and member of the sub-commission on culture, written on the occasion of his 90th birthday that we published in 2010.  

He was son of a journalist, also Michel Iriart, who came from his home, Donibane Garazi, at a very young age and worked as a journalist at France Press leaving him enough time to be a first back for the San Lorenzo de Almagro team during his glorious year’s as an amateur soccer players.  It was he, Michel Iriart father, who cultivated the Basque club and who served as club secretary as a true right-hand-man for its legendary president, Jean Pierre Passicot.  He was known for his love of all things Basques, he used to meet boats in the port of Buenos Aires coming from Europe, often full of immigrants and ask their captains if there were any Basque countrymen. If so, they were immediately welcomed and helped by this man based in Almagro, not far from his beloved stadium, and the fronton and store of another associate and friend, Simon Soroet.

His son, Michel Iriart, was born in the Almagro neighborhood and was a student at the Euskal Echea School and the School of San Jose.  Being very young in spirit and adventure, his love for the country of his elders pushed him to fight against fascism.  He then left Argentina, and became part of the Saint Cyr French Military Academy, then in England, graduating as a second lieutenant, joining the X Camel Regiment in Chad.  He landed in Normandy a few days before the invasion.  He went to Paris on a secret mission on the night of August 24, 1944, and returned the day after the liberation with the bulk of the troops.

Under the command of 30 men of the 9th Company of the Second Armored Division in Leclerc, on May 5, 1945, and already as a Lieutenant, he arrived at Bertchlesgarden, in the Bavarian Alps, to fly the French Flag on the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s residence.  He also participated in a French expeditionary force in Indochina, obtaining the rank of captain. He has been honored by the French Government with the Legion of Honor.  When he returned, he was a journalist.  Sub director of the France Press Agency, in Buenos Aires and Chief of the Agency in Chile and Latin American director.

As previously mentioned, his second home was the Basque club that he started attending at the age of three, until present, where he continues to be a board member.  He has served as secretary, president, several times, always pushing for its progress.  He was also the president of the French Union of Former Combatants.

Michel Iriart is a man loved by all who know him, respected and admired within the Basque community of Iparralde.  His Alma Mater is our club, and he always delights us when he sings , with such emotion, Boga Boga.

GB