Robert Desbrandes recently celebrated his 100th birthday at home in central France; he is a true blue legend and proof that an active inquisitive mind can lead to a long and productive life … just like being an active ALLIANCE Schlumberger member!
Robert joined Schlumberger in 1947, heading to Morocco as a Wireline Field Engineer. From there he went to Trinidad to learn English and Spanish, followed by field assignments in Colombia and Venezuela, then Engineering in Houston Texas. After Schlumberger Robert joined IFP – (Institut Français du Pétrole) in Paris in 1978, followed by Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge in 1982, a Professor from 1984-1994, then Professor Emeritus 1994-2004, where he worked on quantum nuclear liaisons and then quantum electron liaisons in thermoluminescent crystals. He was still working on Quantum Communications well into his 90s.
Robert published many scientific papers and articles, including the definitive ‘Encyclopedia of Well Logging‘ in 1985. He is an eminent SPWLA (Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts) member and received the Technical Achievement Gold Medal in 1999 in Oslo. Only 40 people have received this award.
Robert and Marie-Josephe Desbrandes have attended numerous ALLIANCE Schlumberger reunions, starting almost from our very beginning at Pfronten, Germany in 1995. Followed by 1999-Lisbon, 2001-Salsam, 2003-Seville, 2005-Budapest, 2009-Prague, 2014-Caen, and most recently in 2016 at Aix-en-Provence, France.
Jean-Pierre Bourin and Philippe Theys, who both live in nearby villages, visited him recently. He was working on distant spin entanglement (www.nature.com › articles › s41565/021/00846-y) and had a complete experimental setup for this research. Definitely a full life!!!! Jean-Pierre says that Robert motivated him to join Schlumberger; he forwarded the following article from his local newspaper in Haut-Bocage (with English translation below).
Robert Desbrandes a fêté ses cent ans entouré de sa famille et d’amis.
Original French Text:
Robert Desbrandes a fêté ses 100 ans (Publié le 07/10/2024 La Montage – Haut-Bocage)
Robert Desbrandes, une personne dynamique qui vit toujours à son domicile du lieu-dit Les Cheriniers, sur la commune de Haut-Bocage, a fêté ses 100 ans avec sa famille et ses amis. Un moment unique. Toujours bon pied bon œil pour ses 100 ans, le doyen de Givarlais a été accueilli par le maire Jean-Michel Laprugne et ses conseillers, à la salle polyvalente, pour fêter son anniversaire.
Le doyen du village
Pour échanger avec Robert Desbrandes, pas besoin de hausser la voix. Le monsieur n’est pas dur d’oreille. S’il n’a plus la force physique de ses 20 ans, il garde une bonne vitalité d’esprit et un sens inné de l’accueil. Car outre le fait d’avoir cent ans, Robert Desbrandes vit avec son épouse Marie-Josèphe, toujours dans leur maison où s’étalent les souvenirs de toute une vie.
Ce joli événement a aussi été l’occasion pour l’élu « de saluer le parcours de cet homme, aussi exceptionnel que son âge, puisqu’il détient un joli sésame qui honore son courage durant la guerre. Nous avons l’immense privilège de célébrer un moment exceptionnel dans notre belle commune de Givarlais ».
Robert est né le 25 septembre 1924, à Villefranche-d’Allier, où ses parents étaient boulangers. Le 21 octobre 1955, il s’est marié avec Marie-Josèphe, avec qui il fonde une belle famille. De cette union verront le jour trois beaux enfants, une fille Frédérique et deux garçons, Franck et Marc, puis quatre petits-enfants et quatre arrière-petits-enfants.
Après des études, il devient ingénieur des Arts et métiers. Commence pour lui une carrière remarquable dans le pétrole, qui va l’emmener au Venezuela, aux États-Unis, à Houston. C’est là que naîtra son fils Marc. Il devient ensuite ingénieur à l’Institut français du pétrole. Il enseigne aussi à l’École nationale du pétrole à l’université de Houston. Il écrit des livres sur « la théorie et interprétation des diagraphies ». Ses ouvrages font encore autorité dans le milieu.
Aujourd’hui, il s’intéresse à la mécanique quantique. Il va mener moult expériences de communications, entre Givarlais et les États-Unis, avec son ami Daniel.
Secret de longévité
Robert confie ses secrets de longévité : « Un jardin pour manger sain, peu d’alcool, pas de tabac et de bonnes nuits de sommeil, une épouse parfaite avec beaucoup d’amour et des copains pour passer de bons moments, de la marche et surtout des séances de gymnastique une fois par semaine à Vallon-en-Sully. »
Tout le monde avait préparé l’anniversaire avec soin : décorations, photos et souvenirs, de manière à retracer le parcours du patriarche et l’histoire de la famille.
Ce patriarche qui a subjugué, impressionné toute l’assemblée par son dynamisme, la précision et la finesse de son raisonne ment, ainsi que par sa vitalité. Vif, alerte, accueillant et bavard, il s’est déclaré ravi devant autant d’attentions.
English Translation:
Robert Desbrandes has celebrated his 100 ans (Published 07/10/2024 La Montage – Haut-Bocage)
Robert Desbrandes, a dynamic person who still lives at his home in Les Cheriniers, in the commune of Haut-Bocage, celebrated his 100th birthday with his family and friends. A unique moment. Still in good health for his 100th birthday, the oldest person in Givarlais was welcomed by Mayor Jean-Michel Laprugne and his councillors, at the multi-purpose hall, to celebrate his birthday.
The oldest person in the village
To talk to Robert Desbrandes, there is no need to raise your voice. The gentleman is not hard of hearing. Although he no longer has the physical strength of his 20s, he retains a good vitality of mind and an innate sense of hospitality. Because in addition to being a hundred years old, Robert Desbrandes lives with his wife Marie-Josèphe, still in their house where the memories of a lifetime are displayed.
This lovely event was also an opportunity for the elected official “to salute the career of this man, as exceptional as his age, since he holds a lovely sesame that honors his courage during the war. We have the immense privilege of celebrating an exceptional moment in our beautiful town of Givarlais”.
Robert was born on September 25, 1924, in Villefranche-d’Allier, where his parents were bakers. On October 21, 1955, he married Marie-Josèphe, with whom he founded a beautiful family. From this union three beautiful children were born, a daughter Frédérique and two boys, Franck and Marc, then four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
After studying, he became an engineer of Arts and Crafts. He began a remarkable career in oil, which would take him to Venezuela, the United States, and Houston. This is where his son Marc was born. He then became an engineer at the French Petroleum Institute. He also taught at the National Petroleum School at the University of Houston. He wrote books on “the theory and interpretation of logs”. His works are still authoritative in the field.
Today, he is interested in quantum mechanics. He will conduct many communications experiments, between Givarlais and the United States, with his friend Daniel.
Secret of longevity
Robert confides his secrets of longevity: “A garden to eat healthy, little alcohol, no tobacco and good nights of sleep, a perfect wife with lots of love and friends to have a good time, walking and especially gym sessions once a week in Vallon-en-Sully.”
Everyone had carefully prepared the birthday: decorations, photos and souvenirs, in order to retrace the patriarch’s journey and the history of the family.
This patriarch who captivated, impressed the entire assembly with his dynamism, the precision and finesse of his reasoning, as well as his vitality. Lively, alert, welcoming and talkative, he declared himself delighted in the face of so much attention.