Jean-Louis Weicker, long-time resident of Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully after a long illness on August 18, 2022.

Jean-Louis was born on August 28, 1937, in Ettelbrȕck, Luxembourg, to Robert and Louise Weicker-Nicolay. His childhood was shaped by the maelstrom of World War II; he recalled fleeing with his parents from the advance of German troops during the Battle of the Bulge. The future allure of doing business in America may have been sparked by the young GIs he met, who happily traded the boy their Hershey's chocolate and canned fruit cocktail for any schnapps he was able to supply.

In 1963, Jean-Louis earned his bachelor's degree with distinction in commercial and consular sciences from the Institut Supérieur de Commerce in Antwerp, Belgium. His talents in half a dozen languages allowed him to act as translator for a Portuguese soccer team while serving in the Luxembourg army, as well as score French essays for the Educational Testing Service during an internship in New Jersey.

Moreover, possibly the finest use of his language skills happened at Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, London, where he posed as a French medical student and flirted with a gorgeous and vivacious German blonde named Annemarie Zanger.

Years later, they reconnected at a serendipitous traffic stop, and in 1968, Jean-Louis married Annemarie and brought her to the United States on the S.S. France. He was tasked with setting up North American operations for the Luxembourg-based company Secalt. This temporary assignment became a 37-year career, with Jean-Louis as President of Griphoist, Inc., managing offices in Westwood, Massachusetts, San Francisco, and Toronto.

The couple moved to Bedford in 1973, where they raised three daughters: Nathalie, Jacqueline, and Catherine. He enjoyed swimming in Walden Pond, hiking, and gardening in the summer, and ice-skating and skiing (both downhill and cross-country) in the winter. Over the years, he and Annemarie travelled extensively around six continents. His love of adventure and fine dining took them from the Great Barrier Reef to Russia, from the Colorado River to China.

Aside from Annemarie, the love of his life, Jean-Louis was especially enthusiastic about two things: fish and his birth country. He knew every secret freshwater and saltwater fishing spot from the Connecticut Lakes to the Cape, and pursued anything with fins from Ireland to Alaska. His motto was, "Just one more cast." Though he relished a freshly caught and cooked trout on his plate, he treated the koi in his pond with fatherly affection.

As for his enduring love for Luxembourg, he delighted in introducing Americans to his home country and was honored to meet the Crown Prince (now Grand Duke) Henri. In 1996, his years of unofficial diplomacy for the Grand Duchy garnered him the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre Grand-Ducal de la Couronne de Chêne. Knighthood was altogether appropriate; his daughters remember him as gallant and generous, quick to laugh and to order a round of champagne.

Jean-Louis is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Annemarie; their daughters Nathalie Weicker of Bedford; Jacqueline (and Thomas) McDonough of Homer, Alaska; and Catherine (and Joshua) Conway of Acton, Massachusetts. He also leaves his flock of adoring grandchildren: Charlotte, Phillip, Stuart, Beatrix, Seamus, Theodor, Audrey, and Willa. Jean-Louis is survived by his brother Charles Weicker of Diekirch, Luxembourg; their younger brother Paul and parents predeceased him.

In addition, Jean-Louis has many cousins, nieces, and nephews around the world, and friends who became family in the United States. Family and friends were very important to him, and he always enjoyed making toasts at their big reunions and holiday gatherings. Prost!

A private family ceremony and burial were held at St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery on August 21 ^st , 2022.