LE LAVANDOU: Death of Francine Brochot, Figure of Journalism and Local Life in the Var

It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of our colleague and collaborator Francine Brochot, which occurred on September 29, 2026, at the age of 82. A long-time correspondent for the Gazette du Var and for Presse Agence, she left her mark on the media and political landscape of the Var, following an already rich national career.

A remarkable Parisian career

Born in Paris in 1944, Francine Brochot was among the first students of the school for press attachés, where her class sponsor was Jean Marin, founder and president of Agence France-Presse (AFP). This prestigious training opened doors to emblematic figures of the era, such as Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, CEO of Publicis. Her first employer was the Ambassador of France André-François Poncet, then president of the French Red Cross. She rapidly became its director of communications, leading international missions, notably at the organization's headquarters in Geneva. Her address book, forged in an inseparable duo with her husband Gérard, included personalities from the political, media, and artistic worlds.

Var roots and civic engagement

In 1982, the couple settled in the Var, in Bormes-les-Mimosas. Francine Brochot then became an essential figure of the local press. From 1987 to 2008, and again from 2015, she was the correspondent for Var-Matin for the communes of Bormes-les-Mimosas, Le Lavandou, and Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer. A woman of conviction, she was deeply marked by the assassination of her friend Yann Piat, deputy for the Var, in 1994. To honor her memory, she founded an association bearing her name, so that no one would forget that an attack could be committed against an elected official of the Republic. With her husband, she also volunteered within the Le Lavandou-Kronberg Twinning Committee.

Eight years at the service of the town hall of Le Lavandou

For eight years, from 2008 to 2016, Francine Brochot put her journalism career on hold to become the chief of staff and communications director for Gil Bernardi, then mayor of Le Lavandou. A close-knit collaboration of flawless loyalty, as the mayor had highlighted upon her departure in 2016, comparing their professional relationship to Article 212 of the Civil Code.

“Spouses owe each other mutual respect, help, fidelity, and assistance,” he had declared, hailing an “irreplaceable” collaborator.

He had then paid tribute to “this pen which is but the projection of the mind,” praising her professionalism, her sense of dedication, and her intimate knowledge of the files.

Death notice:consult the notice for Francine Brochot and funeral information on roblot.fr

A woman of passion and communication

Francine Brochot never envisaged retiring completely from active life. During her farewell gathering at the town hall, she shared her philosophy of life with her colleagues.

“The word retirement does not belong in my vocabulary and, besides, a page turning does not mean the book is closing,” she confided.

Her unwavering love for her husband Gérard, an artist who notably created the Cosec fresco for the 15th anniversary of the French-German twinning, was the pillar of her existence. This close-knit and complementary couple leaves behind the memory of constant commitment, surrounded by the love of their children, Séverine and Étienne, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ceremony and last wishes

The family of Francine Brochot, her daughter Séverine, her son Étienne, their spouses and children, shared the details of the funeral. The religious ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the Saint-Louis church in Le Lavandou. It will be followed by cremation in Cuers at 12:45 p.m. Francine will then join her husband Gérard in the columbarium of the cemetery of Bormes-les-Mimosas.