Obituary of Michel Henri Ras-Allard

Michel Henri Ras-Allard, a 44 year resident of Darien, CT, passed away on Friday, October 21, 2005 at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT. Born May 17, 1926 in Le Mont Dore, France, he was the son of the late Emil Ras and Yvonne Veysseyre Ras. He was 79 years of age. Mr. Ras-Allard received a B.A. in Romance Languages from the University of Clermont in Clermont Ferrand, France. During World War II, Michel was affiliated with the French Resistance until serving as Field Interpreter in the 6th Army Group, composed of the French 1st and the U.S. 7th Army. After the War, he left France for Brazil where he launched a singing career under the stage name of Michel Allard, having studied voice under Charles Trenet in Paris. He performed throughtout South America, Cuba and Canada, finally being sponsored to enter the United States by Will Rogers Jr. In New York City, he performed on the television programs, among them: 'The Jack Parr Show' and 'The Morning Show'. He aired on various radio programs and performed in night-club cabarets and replaced Charles Trenet in the musical 'Hello Paree'. In 1956, he met his wife-to-be in New York City and the two were married in 1957. With the different languages he spoke fluently, he pursued a career with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC where he spent 18 years traveling as an interpreter for guests of the U.S. Government from French and Portuguese-speaking countries. In 1975, he founded Executive Translation Systems, working with many multi-national corporations in the tri-state area until his retirement. He was vice president of the Connecticut Foreign Trade Association and a member of the American Translators Association. He is survived by his wife, Lydia Garcia Ras-Allard of Darien, CT; a son, Charles P. Ras-Allard also of Darien; and a daughter Christiane Williams and her husbnad Mark of Dorking, Surrey, England. He is also survived by two grandchildren Emilia and Samuel Williams and two step grandchildren Jennifer and Katherine Williams. A Memorial Service was held at the Noroton Presbyterian Church, Darien, CT on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at 11:30 AM with Pastors David Jordan-Haas and Peter Johnson co-presiding. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Michel Ras-Allard to Menaul School, 301 Menaul Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT US 06820