"Make them build a cathedral together, and they will love each other."

It was with this quote adapted from Saint-Exupéry that the petition launched in 2015 by Léonce Vilbert, which set out Grignon Campus' vision for the future of the estate and gathered 100,000 signatures, concluded.

We are saddened to learn of the death of Léonce Vilbert at the dawn of his 95th year.

The son of farmers, Léonce joined Grignon in 1950. His 3 years on the estate had a profound impact on him, both professionally and personally : he met his wife Gisèle, a fellow member of the 125th class, with whom he would have 7 children.

After a long and rich professional and associative career in the service of life, Léonce became in 2015 an emblem of the mobilization to save Grignon. With the site threatened by a takeover by PSG, he launched a petition calling for the sale to be cancelled and for the creation of a center for exchange and information on agriculture, food and the environment. The petition received almost 100,000 signatures.

He then took part in the creation of the Collectif pour le Futur du Site de Grignon, an association with which Grignon 2000 is fighting to implement Léonce's vision of Grignon's future. A future at the service of agro-ecology and the common good. A director of Grignon 2000 for many years, he was present every Tuesday morning from his 85th to his 94th birthday, to follow the project's progress.

Perhaps you met him at the tribute ceremonies he presided over at Grignon every November 11th? Then you'll have discovered his extraordinary energy, walking briskly from the château to the greenhouses to recall the memory of those who gave their lives for lofty ideas.

Léonce in 2023 preparing to give a speech in front of Grignon's 1914-1918 war memorial.

Photo credit: AgroParisTech Alumni

Over the years, we've come to know him as an activist for agroecology and agroforestry, but also for international causes in the fight against global warming. No mountain was insurmountable for him.

He showed us that it was possible to get involved, to take part in public debate, to convince the new generation, but also to take personal action, as his commitment in Morocco proves, as well as through his 20,000 tree plantations around Rubempré.

Léonce wanted to honor Grignon by giving back as much as Grignon had given him. Despite the inertia, he never gave up, spent time and money without counting the cost for this cause which was close to his heart, and was always the one who stimulated us not to give up. We are certain that from where he is today, he will continue to do so.

Our duty today is to complete his work by finally realizing the ambition he carried for Grignon, and to ensure that this place transforms the lives of new people as it transformed his own.

-------------

You can find an interview with Léonce in 2023 at this address: https://laforge.org/leonce-vilbert/