Eulogy

=Written Eulogy – Gustav Eiffel=

=
I'd like to thank everyone present here for coming today, to mourn the loss of not only a great human being brother, but also a brother of ours. I'm sure these few days have been extremely hard for all of us, but my dear friend Gustav would've been very pleased to see all of you here. He was always a very humble man; selfless and never expecting much, even when he deserved it. Gustav and I have been best friends ever since we were in kindergarten, so understand him better than any one on this planet. Although we are all aware of his optimal creativity and excellence in engineering and architecture, It is quite astonishing that such a selfless and humble man could design such magnificent structures.======

=
During his youth, the two major influences on Gustav were both very successful chemists, his uncles', Jean Mollerat and Michel Perret. Both of them spent a lot of time with young Gustav and me, teaching him about everything from chemistry and mining to religion and philosophy. At school, Gustav was extremely smart, but he was not very studious. During later years, while attending high school at Lycée Royal, Gustav was mostly bored at school and felt that the classes were a waste of time. Not until his last two years at school did he find his niche.======

=
I specifically remember the year 1855, the year that Paris hosted the first World's Fair. After graduation, Gustav's uncle offered him a job at his vinegar works in Dijon. However, a family dispute ruined that opportunity for him, eventually taking him to the path of success. A company that designed railway bridges soon employed Gustav. A man named Charles Neveu, played a very important role in kick-starting Gustav's career in the early stages, by recognizing his potential and placed him on higher level jobs. Without the influence of Neveu and his support, Gustav might not have been the successful person he later became.======

=
Another day I specifically remember is the day of June 24, 1887. This is the day when he designed plan for the world famous Eiffel Tower. As soon as he finished making a rough copy of the design, he came running straight into my office, because he wanted me to be the first one to see his “masterpiece”. Although it was work of ingenious, I made some uneducated changes to the model, which actually helped him improve his structure. He was the happiest man on Earth that day. However, Gustav was much more than just the designer of the Eiffel tower ad many magnificent structures. He was a loving father to his five children, a wonderful caring husband to his wife, and not to mention, a loyal friend to me. Gustav worked very hard. He was a successful businessman, yet he could always find time for his family and friends.======

=
When his youngest son Albert called me on an unusually dreary morning to inform me that Gustav had passed away, I felt like a part of me has died too. He had made such a huge impact on my life. Gustav was always there for me when I needed him, and his witty jokes never failed to cheer me up. He died at the age of 91, living his life to the fullest. Gustav told me a few days before he died, " My dream was to do something in my life that other can be proud of; and I believe I have succeeded." So, let's cherish the memories, and thank God for the life of this brilliant man.======