Gerald Louis Sejourne

Gérald Séjourné, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, Engineer, and lover of life, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2025, surrounded by his family in Boca Raton, FL. He was 86.  All who knew him will remember him for his kind heart, beautiful mind, love of nature and love of family. 

Born in the Bois Verna neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti—an area known for its iconic gingerbread-style homes—Gérald was the son of Amélie Wiener and Raul Séjourné, and great grandson of Etienne Séjourné, founder of the historic Pharmacy Séjourné on Rue du Centre.  

Gérald’s childhood was filled with stories of Parisian life, shared by his father during weekends at their family cottage in the cool mountains of Kenscoff. These tales sparked Gérald’s own love for French culture, which blossomed during his teenage years when he moved to Paris to attend high school at the Lycée Jeanson de Sailly.

From there, Gérald embarked on his journey to the United States where he would establish deep family roots and a love for America.  In 1958, Gérald was accepted into Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering with Tau Beta Pi honors. A gifted athlete, he was captain and leading scorer of RPI’s varsity soccer team.

In 1962, Gérald married Rose-Marie Gardère, whom he had met years earlier while playing tennis with her brother, Robert. Not only did that year mark the start of a joyful 63-year marriage, it was also the start of a distinguished career at IBM.  There he contributed to the development of the IBM System/360 mainframe—technology that played a pivotal role in NASA’s Apollo missions that landed the first human on the moon.

Together, Gérald and Rose Marie built a life filled with love, adventure, and family. They lived in Poughkeepsie and Woodstock, NY; St. Paul de Vence, France; and Boca Raton, FL, raising two children, Françoise and Eric.  All the while, Gérald served as the protector and motivator of his family, constantly encouraging his children to reach for the stars and live their best lives.  Gérald cherished annual holiday trips to Haiti, where the Séjourné and Gardère families would reunite in celebration.   

After 33 years at IBM, he retired to focus on his passions: tennis, nature, and most importantly, his family. He traveled widely with Rose-Marie, capturing breathtaking landscapes in Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and other National Parks.  An avid photographer, Gérald catalogued his life with beautiful photographs of nature and family, which he prominently displayed in his home office for all to enjoy. 

Early in his retirement, Gérald was blessed with 4 grandchildren; Corinne, Gabrielle, Mark, and Max, and became “Père.”  He established a special relationship with each of his grandchildren, passing on his wisdom and warmth.

Gérald is survived by his beloved wife Rose-Marie; his brother Jacques; his daughter Françoise and her son Max; his son Eric (Kate) and their children Corinne, Gabrielle, and Mark. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raul and Amélie, and his sister Nicole.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am, October 20, 2025, at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 370 SW 3rd St, Boca Raton, FL   33432. 

In honor of Gérald’s memory, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.