Jacques Bahbout

Jacques was huge in all our lives. He was both feisty and wise and, of course, a buccaneer in the business world.

I've been thinking about the wise part. Here are four little memories.

He said some things I will always remember. Regarding beauty, he said, "It's easy to be be beautiful in youth. Beauty with age is the real accomplishment."

Regarding relationships in social hierarchies, his with Enrico, his long-discredited (though formerly respected) capitano, displayed a curious twist. Enrico gave Jacques the "tu" while Jacques gave Enrico the "lei". This was, of course, a reversal of the true hierarchy but revealed what I interpreted as recognition of Enrico's skill and Jacques' sense of irony, always eye-opening.

On one occasion, I brought with me to Rome my San Francisco buddy Larry, a self-made millionaire. Meeting him, Jacques immediately sensed kindred energy and the two hit it right off.

And, of course, Jacques created for himself a life of drama and swagger. I'll always remember how, early on Monday mornings, he would plunge into the sea at Arenella and swim out to the Ferdinando III where Enrico had the water heated for his shower, his pressed suit, and his breakfast while they motored to Porto Santo Stefano from which Jacques would proceed to his Rome office and his week of work. He knew how to live!