Dr. Alain Robillard, who has died at the age of 75, was a neurologist who was a leading expert on Alzheimer’s Disease in Quebec. His research included translating into French an American test on evaluating Alzheimer’s Disease.
By : Fred Langan.
A commitment to the community
Dr. Robillard retired in 2020 and lived with his wife Dr. Louise Cyrenne, who still works as an anesthetist, in their house on the Conference in Knowlton. Alain was involved with the Alzheimer Society of Brome-Missisquoi and Haute-Yamaska. The Society said: “We have lost a precious ally, a committed administrator, an exceptional doctor, but above all, a great and profoundly human man.”
Every Monday in Knowlton there is a meeting of people with dementia at the Three Pines Café in Knowlton. Dr. Robillard was involved with that group.
“Alain was not only an authoritative and dynamic member of the Alzheimer’s advisory committee he was a supportive and influential presence in the community always coming out to events setting people at ease, networking and chatting,” said Louise Penny, whose own husband died of Alzheimer’s. “Alain was a remarkable person who made a difference in this community helping the people and families living with dementia.”
A career devoted to Alzheimer’s research
Alain Robillard was born in Montreal on May 15, 1951. His father, also Alain Robillard, died when he was young and his mother, Laurette Champaigny-Robillard was a prominent feminist. While a student at the Universite de Montreal Alain worked at Eaton’s in the photography department. He was a keen amateur photographer all his life.
One year after graduating in neurology he went to Marseille in France for further studies on what became his discipline for the rest of his life. For many years he worked at the Hospital Maisonneuve Rosemont specializing in treating patients with dementia, which isn’t always Alzheimer’s Disease. He soon realized there was not a test for Alzheimer’s in French. He asked a specialist in Boston if he could translate their material, and the answer was yes.
Dr. Robillard became one the recognized experts in Quebec in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“His legacy for me is Alain gave this sickness and its patients some dignity instead of being looked at as disturbed older people,” said his wife Louise Cyrenne.
A devoted family man
Alain Robillard was a devoted family man, a perfectionist who loved to cook and garden. His command of both French and English was so complete that every day he would do the most complex word puzzle in the New York Times. He was a cultured man with immense curiosity and a self-deprecating wit. He said of his baldness: “Grass doesn’t grow on a busy street.”
Alain Robillard leaves his wife Louise, his children, Étienne, Xavier, stepson Jean-Phillippe Gingras his sisters Chantal, Christine and Josée, and four grandchildren. His brother Daniel predeceased him.
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