Pathetic Facts

Belgian music stars who deceased at age 70

Here are 15 famous musicians from Belgium died at 70:

Jean Auguste Ulric Scheler

Jean Auguste Ulric Scheler (April 6, 1819-April 5, 1890) was a Belgian scientist.

He was known for his work in the field of entomology, particularly the study of beetles. Scheler wrote several influential books on beetles, including "Iconographie des Buprestides" and "Insecta Coleoptera." He also served as the director of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels from 1873 to 1886. In addition to his work in entomology, Scheler was also an accomplished artist and illustrator, producing several beautiful illustrations of insects and other natural wonders. He was awarded the prestigious Order of Leopold by the Belgian government for his contributions to science.

Romain Maes

Romain Maes (August 10, 1912 Belgium-February 22, 1983 Dilbeek) was a Belgian professional road racing cyclist.

He is best known for winning the 1935 Tour de France at the age of 22, becoming the youngest winner of the race at the time. Maes was also the Belgian National Road Race champion in 1935 and 1936.

During his career, Maes won a total of 51 races, including several classics such as Paris-Roubaix and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He participated in the Tour de France five times, winning two stages in addition to his overall victory.

Maes' career was interrupted by World War II, during which he was forced to serve in the German army. After his return to racing in 1943, he never reached the same level of success as before the war.

In retirement, Maes managed a bike shop and occasionally worked as a radio commentator for cycling events. He passed away in 1983 at the age of 70.

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Jos Huysmans

Jos Huysmans (December 18, 1941 Beerzel-October 10, 2012) was a Belgian personality.

He was a renowned painter, known for his unique style that blended elements of surrealism and expressionism. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and quickly gained recognition for his striking, large-scale paintings that explored themes of identity, memory, and the human condition. In addition to his successful art career, he was also a dedicated teacher, serving as a professor of painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent for over 20 years. He received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the Belgian art world, and his works can be found in collections across Europe and beyond.

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Julien Schepens

Julien Schepens (December 19, 1935 Anzegem-August 16, 2006 Kruishoutem) was a Belgian personality.

He was renowned for his contributions to the world of cycling, particularly as a commentator and journalist. Schepens started his career as a teacher but soon found his true passion in cycling. He began working as a freelance journalist for various Belgian newspapers and magazines, covering major cycling events such as the Tour de France and the World Championships.

Schepens became a well-known figure in the cycling world, admired for his insightful commentary and astute analysis of the sport. He was also instrumental in popularizing cycling in Belgium, which has a long and proud history in the sport.

In addition to his work in cycling journalism, Schepens was also a successful author, writing several books on cycling and its history. He was recognized for his contributions to the sport with numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the prestigious "Jury Prize" at the Belgian Sports Awards.

Despite his passing, Julien Schepens remains an important figure in the world of cycling, remembered for his passion for the sport and his invaluable contributions to its development and growth.

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Didier Comès

Didier Comès (December 11, 1942 Belgium-March 7, 2013) was a Belgian personality.

He was a graphic novelist and comic book artist, known for his seminal works such as "Silence" and "Ergün l'Errant." Born in Sourbrodt, a small village in eastern Belgium, Comès started his career in the early 1970s at the age of 30. He gained international acclaim for his unique blend of surrealism, magic realism, and social commentary, which set him apart from other European comics artists of his generation. Throughout his career, Comès published several graphic novels, which have been translated into multiple languages and remain popular with readers around the world. Despite his success, Comès remained an intensely private person and avoided the media spotlight. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 70.

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Gerard Mortier

Gerard Mortier (November 25, 1943 Ghent-March 8, 2014 Brussels) also known as Gérard Mortier was a Belgian personality.

Mortier was most notably an opera director and cultural administrator. He was the director of the Paris Opera from 2004-2009, and prior to that he served in leadership roles at several prominent cultural institutions, including the Salzburg Festival, the Ruhr Triennale, and the Teatro Real in Madrid. Mortier was known for his innovative and often controversial productions, and he was widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the world of opera. Outside of his work in the arts, Mortier was also an advocate for social justice issues and was particularly involved in efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.

He died in pancreatic cancer.

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Paul de Smet de Naeyer

Paul de Smet de Naeyer (May 13, 1843 Ghent-September 9, 1913 Brussels) was a Belgian personality.

He was a statesman and served as the Prime Minister of Belgium on two occasions, from 1895 to 1899 and again from 1907 to 1911. De Smet de Naeyer was a member of the Catholic Party and was known for advocating for conservative economic policies, including a strong adherence to the gold standard. He was instrumental in negotiating the Congo Free State's annexation by Belgium in 1908. De Smet de Naeyer also spearheaded efforts to modernize the Belgian economy, including investments in infrastructure such as railways and modernizing the country's currency. He was also an advocate for improving workers' conditions, introducing measures such as sick leave and old-age pensions.

Herman Teirlinck

Herman Teirlinck (April 5, 1897 Sint-Jans-Molenbeek-April 5, 1967) was a Belgian writer.

He is considered one of the most important Flemish writers of the 20th century. Teirlinck was particularly known for his novels, plays, and essays, but he also worked as a professor of aesthetics and Dutch literature at the University of Ghent.

Born in a French-speaking part of Brussels, Teirlinck wrote exclusively in Dutch. He is best known for his novel "De Vertraagde Film" (The Delayed Film), which is considered a masterpiece of Flemish literature.

Teirlinck was not only an accomplished writer but also a journalist and a theater director. He was a key figure in the Flemish literary scene of his time and a leading member of the Flemish cultural movement. He received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Constantijn Huygens Prize in 1950.

Teirlinck's work is known for its psychological depth, its exploration of the human condition, and its sensitivity to the complexities of Flemish culture and identity. His influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary Flemish writers. Today, he is remembered as one of the most important figures in Flemish literature.

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André Souris

André Souris (July 10, 1899 Marchienne-au-Pont-February 12, 1970 Paris) also known as Andre Souris was a Belgian writer, composer, conductor and musicologist.

He was a prolific composer, well-known for his avant-garde approach to music. Souris was part of the surrealist movement in Belgium and was one of the founders of the group "Les Compagnons de l'Oeuvre". He studied composition with influential 20th century composers such as Arnold Schönberg and Anton Webern. Souris was also interested in electronic music and was one of the pioneers of musique concrète in Belgium. In addition to his music, he wrote poetry and essays on music. Souris was awarded numerous prizes for his work throughout his lifetime, including the Belgian government's Grand Prix Artistique in 1968.

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Jan Vanderheyden

Jan Vanderheyden (October 10, 1890 Antwerp-March 27, 1961 Antwerp) was a Belgian film producer and film director.

He was one of the key figures in the Flemish film industry during the 1930s and 1940s. Vanderheyden began his career as a photographer and later worked as a cinematographer before venturing into film directing and production. He made his directorial debut with the film "De Witte" (The White), which turned out to be a blockbuster hit in Belgium and established his reputation as a director. He went on to make several successful films, including "Boefje" (Little Rascal) and "Mijnheer Serjanszoon" (Mr. Serjanszoon), which were well received by both critics and audiences.

Vanderheyden is also credited with co-founding the Flemish Film Association, which aimed to support and promote the development of the Flemish film industry. He was an influential figure and mentor to many young filmmakers of his time, including Joris Ivens and Charles Dekeukeleire. After World War II, Vanderheyden's career declined due to financial difficulties and tough competition from foreign films. Nevertheless, he remained active in the film industry until his death in 1961 in Antwerp.

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Hendrik Conscience

Hendrik Conscience (December 3, 1812 Antwerp-August 10, 1883) was a Belgian personality.

He was a writer and pioneer of Flemish literature. He is best known for his novel "The Lion of Flanders" (1838), which tells the story of the Flemish struggle for independence. Conscience's work inspired a renewed sense of Flemish identity and pride, and he is considered a key figure in the Flemish movement. In addition to his writing, Conscience was also politically active, advocating for the recognition and promotion of the Dutch language in Belgium. He received numerous honors during his lifetime, including being named a Knight in the Order of Leopold, and his legacy continued long after his death, with statues and monuments dedicated to him throughout Belgium.

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Diderik Batens

Diderik Batens (April 5, 2015-November 15, 1944) was a Belgian philosopher.

He was a prominent figure in the field of logic and was instrumental in the development of paraconsistent logic, which deals with reasoning in situations where contradictions are present. Batens published numerous articles and books on logic, including "Paraconsistent Logic: Essays on the Inconsistent," which is considered a seminal work in the field. He also held teaching positions at various universities throughout Europe, including in Belgium, Germany, and Italy. Batens was known for his thoughtful and rigorous approach to logic, and his work continues to influence scholars in the field today.

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Hendrik Elias

Hendrik Elias (June 12, 1902 Machelen-February 2, 1973 Uccle) was a Belgian personality.

He was a lawyer, an academic, and a politician who became widely known for his role as the founder of the Vlaams Nationaal Verbond (VNV), a Flemish nationalist political movement in Flanders during World War II. As a student, Elias was influenced by the Flemish Movement, a cultural and linguistic movement that aimed to protect and promote the Dutch language and Flemish culture. He became more active in politics during the 1930s and was elected as a member of the Belgian Parliament in 1936. During World War II, Elias was appointed as the Minister of Economic Affairs in the collaborationist government of Flanders, which was affiliated with the Nazi regime. After the war, Elias was convicted of collaboration and sentenced to prison before being released in 1951. He later became a writer and a professor of law.

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Fernand Dehousse

Fernand Dehousse (July 3, 1906 Liège-August 10, 1976) was a Belgian politician.

He served as a Member of Parliament from 1936 to 1968 and was also a Minister of several portfolios in the Belgian government. Dehousse was a member of the Belgian Socialist Party and played a significant role in the post-World War II reconstruction of Belgium. He was a staunch supporter of the European project and played an instrumental role in the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, which would later evolve into the European Union. Dehousse was also a professor of law at the University of Liège and published several books on European law and international relations.

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Charles Lemonnier

Charles Lemonnier (January 12, 1860 Mons-September 11, 1930 Brussels) was a Belgian politician.

He was a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives from 1900 to 1912, and then served as senator from 1912 to 1925. Lemonnier was also the mayor of Brussels from 1911 to 1921, during which time he oversaw several important public works projects and initiatives that helped modernize the city. In addition to his political career, Lemonnier was a successful businessman who operated a printing and graphic arts company. He was known for his commitment to social justice and his efforts to improve the lives of working-class Belgians, particularly in regard to labor laws and workplace safety. Despite his many achievements, Lemonnier's legacy has been somewhat overshadowed by his controversial decision to support the German occupation of Belgium during World War I, which remains a subject of debate among historians to this day.

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