About two (2) years after the disappearance of Jean-Reynold Saint-Surin and Georges Marc-Antoine, the large violettist family mourns the departure of another legitimate son of the Old Tiger: Gabriel Fleury (Gabo), who died in Miami on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 3 a.m. He left at the age of 85.
Born in Port-au-Prince on March 24, 1937, Gabriel Fleury obtained his first “certificate of football studies” at the Paul Baron Academy, which contributed to the emergence of a host of young Haitian footballers during the years. 50.
Adopted son of Marshal Miton, the spiritual father of all violettist generations, Gabo naturally defended the blue and white corridors on the Haitian football chessboard throughout his career. Brilliant centre-forward, “artistic player”, he was one of the idols of young people of my generation. Jovial, the sympathetic Gabo animated the training of the Violette on the ground of the Petit Seminaire College Saint-Martial in the Cité Cadet.
In the early 1960s, soloist Gabriel Fleury shone in the offensive division of Violette along with Gérald Delpêche, Georges Marc-Antoine and Gérard Gaspard. Other blue and white actors of this era include Max Féquière, Jacky Lamarre, Jean Cadet, Reynold D’Haïti, Manno Georges, Venant Jean-Pierre, Jacques Lahens, Guy Claude, Gérard Lakòl and Wilfrid Soray.
At the end of the 63-64 season, the talented Ti Gabriel had decided to put an end to his brilliant career. But at the request of Marshal Miton, his adoptive father, he continued to defend the blue and white tunic until the end of the 66-67 season.
During the 64-65 and 65-66 seasons in particular, Gabo was one of the most remarkable actors of Le Violette alongside Roland Crispin, Reynold D’Haïti, Jacques Lahens, the young stars Philippe Vorbe and Jean-Reynold Saint-Surin, Coming Jean-Pierre, Romane Paul, Félix Bayonne, Ralph Kernizan, Paul Jacques, Gérard Jules, Jacky Benjamen, Georges Marc-Antoine, the young Pierre Bayonne, Frantzy Victor and Ralph Kernizan, Gérard Dossous and the Ti Nènè-Jacques Calixte tandem ( ex-Don Bosco).
On the occasion of the memorable 1966 Caribbean tournament (Coupe François Duvalier) won by the Haitian team, Gabriel Fleury was so successful as a left winger that he managed to rank among the five best players in the national team. After the tournament, Papa Doc, great protector of sports, received the Haitian champions at the National Palace where, it is said, he organized a draw. Luck smiled on Gabriel Fleury who participated in the 1966 World Cup in England. A precious gift from President François Duvalier!
On Wednesday August 10, 2022, the late Gabriel Fleury found his missing partners from the national team and Violette on the “field of the other world”. Another sports mapou fell. Sincere condolences to his wife, his children, his parents, to the large Violette family and to the companions of his long career.
Raymond Jean-Louis
sports activist
The last journey of Gabriel Fleury, legitimate son of the old tiger