Dr. Jules Picot

Dr. Jules J.C. Picot died September 10, 2018 at the DECH in Fredericton as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born in Edmundston, NB, July 23, 1932, the son of the late Ernest and Blanche (Lebel) Picot.

Jules is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Carol (Creaghan); their children, Nicole (Scot Hale) and André; beloved grandchildren, Natalie Callan (Mathieu Boudreau), Corey, Allyson (Mitchell Daigle), Nicholas and Andrew Picot; by his three sisters, Patricia Gillis (Moncton, NB), Jeannine Cochrane (Mississauga, ON) and Claudette Picot (Courtenay, BC) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jules studied engineering at St. Francis Xavier University and graduated with a BSc in engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1955. He completed a MSc at MIT in 1957 and a PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota in 1966.

He joined the University of New Brunswick in 1959 and was a founding member of the department of chemical engineering. During his 39 years at UNB and two terms as department chairman, he contributed significantly to the development of chemical engineering into a first-class teaching and research unit. Highly regarded by students for the energy and enthusiasm he brought into the classroom he taught virtually the entire chemical engineering curriculum. Jules also enriched his students’ learning experience by establishing practice schools in partnership with many important New Brunswick industries. An internationally renowned researcher, he collaborated with industry and academic institutions in Canada, France, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

He was a life member of the Association of Professional Engineers of New Brunswick, a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada and a UNB Merit Award recipient. He retired in July 1995 but continued to contribute to UNB as an honorary research professor for several years. Jules was named professor emeritus in 1996.

Jules was an avid outdoorsman. He camped, canoed, skied, hunted, fished and hiked in every corner of New Brunswick with family, friends and students. He was also an accomplished musician and was a member the Fredericton Marching Band since 1976. He loved good food, good wine and good company. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Jules’ family is forever grateful to his physicians and the amazing staff in the ER, 4NE and Palliative Care for the wonderful, compassionate care he received while at the DECH.

Visitation will be held at McAdams Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 from 7 – 9 pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 12:05 pm. For those who wish, a memorial donation may be made to the Dr. Jules Picot Scholarship at UNB or to a charity of one’s choice.