Information and religion, current affairs and faith. The two passions of Jean-Marie Armand, Guillaume Alexandre on the air. The deacon and former presenter of Antenne Réunion died this morning, at the age of 74. Television figure before embracing a religious vocation. His charisma, his kindness, his humor.
The music and the face are surely familiar to you. Star of the small screen and eager for the field. As in photos where he interviews the famous singer Jean-Pierre Boyer. Guillaume Alexandre, whose real name is Jean-Marie Armand, died today following an illness.
A presenter who left his mark on the editorial staff of Antenne Réunion. “I remember him as a remarkable, respectful man. Guillaume Alexandre did the weekend news with professionalism, never using a teleprompter, always writing by hand. He was with us from 1991 to 2000. He never missed a single newscast. Frankly, he was a great television man”remembers Nathalie Almar, editorial secretary of Antenne Réunion.
“Guillaume reassured us. He wasn’t panicking, everything was going well, even if I, for my part, was panicking a little, things were going well for him. We lost someone very dear”regrets Jean-René Félicité, former editor-in-chief of Antenne Réunion.
Present on our set more than a year ago, Jean-Marie Armand has lived several lives: executive at the Post Office, journalist at the same time, to finally dedicate his life to God. “We know this approach to this end of life. I hope he is as happy where he is today as he was all the way back in his life. In any case, I will never forget it”promises Alain Hoarau, former presenter of Antenne Réunion sports broadcasts.
A vigil is organized at the rectory of the church of Saint-André where he was a deacon. Among the faithful, another deacon, consecrated the same year as him in 2013. “He always told me “I am not afraid of death”. I think there was a spiritual force in him, very close to the Lord. And today, although it is a great sorrow for the community, I think that he has found his place with the one he served as a deacon, with God”shares Gérad Jence, permanent deacon at Bras-Panon.
Jean-Marie Armand leaves behind the memory of a man of letters, cultured and at the height of others. His funeral will take place tomorrow at Saint-André in the company of the religious community.
