Nicknamed “La Perruche”, because of its small size, this former cycling champion died on July 3, 76 years to the day after the first time he endorsed the yellow jersey, for six consecutive stages, during the 1949 Tour de France. Mayor of Melun from 1989 to 2002, Jacques Marinelli died Thursday at the age of 99. He would have been a hundred years old on December 15. A gathering in his memory is planned at noon in the courtyard of the town hall this Friday.
“Jacques Marinelli will remain in our memories as a man of engagement, a man of heart, a man of the field. He had been able to combine the excellence of sport, entrepreneurial success and the service of the general interest, “said Kadir Mebarek (horizons), the mayor, who describes” a tireless builder “.
“You always had to see further”
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“He was a very effective man, very human and simple in his relationships with others. He always said, I know where I come from », Reacts Henri Mellier, former director general of services from 1985 to 2013 and today first deputy mayor, very affected by the disappearance of this son of Italian immigrants.
According to the elected official, the newspaper “Le Miroir du sprint” had titled in July 1949 Marinelli: L’audace. And that perfectly sums up this man who was a friend for me, ”says Henri Mellier. Bold, this man full of energy was on his bike “because he was small, sneaned everywhere, he was a climber, etc. But he was also daring in business. He had created a cycle store in Melun. Then during a trip to the United States, he had seen shops for the sale of washing machines. He said he That’s what I want to do! And he opened a Place Saint-Jean appliance store before settling under Conforama franchise on the fairground, ”says Henri Mellier.
It was especially as mayor of the city-prefecture that he left his footprint. “He was an exemplary and visionary mayor. Once a thing has been done, you always had to see further … “Melun owes him the pedestrianization of the city center (rue and Place Jacques Amyot, Parvis Saint-Aspais, etc.), but also the project of the media library he launched.
First president of Melun Val de Seine
“He did a lot to consolidate Melun as a city-prefecture. We owe him the modernization of the judicial court. He had discussed this with prosecutor Charlon at the time because they were cycling together. The magistrate explained that the court was dilapidated, too narrow … Marinelli looked for a site, saw that of the old Brasseries Grüber and the city bought the land! As for the administrative court which risked leaving for Sénart, it could be maintained in Melun in the premises of the former court on rue Charles de Gaulle! Balladur then Prime Minister announced to him, we were happy, ”recalls Henri Mellier.
Jacques Marinelli also created the district of the Melunaise agglomeration (the DAM) which created the amphitheater of the important Queen-White for the University. He was also the first president of the Melun Val de Seine agglomeration community.
“The general interest stronger than intrigue and passions”
Henri Mellier remembers his favorite sentences: “We must defend the general interest stronger than intrigue and passions” or even “speech is man or man is worth nothing”.
But in 2002, this mayor full of ideas was caught by an administrative “error”. The Regional Chamber of Accounts is an offense in the electoral code. The name and signature of the Marinelli candidate appear on the declaration form of the association responsible for funding its municipal campaign, and which implies that he may have acknowledgment of management. Which is illegal. He pleaded his good faith, ensuring that he had only taken over the document which had served in his previous campaign. But what was authorized in 1995 was no longer in 2001. In July 2002, the Council of State confirmed the judgment of the Administrative Court of February 2002 and declared it ineligible for a year. The elected official must let go of his mayor’s chair (and president of the CAMVS).
Since then, he has always supported his successors.
“We could chat with him”
Elected opposition from 1983 to 1995, and candidate in front of him in 1989, Jacky Laplace (PS) salutes the memory of “A pleasant man. You could chat with him ”. But he prefers to evoke a halftone assessment. “Indirectly, he contributed to the decline in Meluan trade by definitively closing his store Place Saint-Jean very engine at the time and by transferring a franchise in Conforama on Patton Avenue to the Fair field, on the outskirts. As a businessman, he always said no parking, no business. He did nothing to upset this movement. »»
Rare thing: Jacques Marinelli saw during his lifetime his name attributed to a cycling criterium, a sports complex in Melun Sud and the portion of the street passing in front (ex-gold)
Jacques Marinelli: A life in Cycling, Business, and Public Service – Key Facts
To better understand the diverse impact of Jacques Marinelli, here’s a concise overview:
| Feature/Achievement | Details |
|———————-|——————————————————————————————————–|
| Cycling Career highlights | Nicknamed “La Perruche” due to small size, was a former cycling champion. Notably, held the Yellow Jersey for six consecutive stages in the 1949 Tour de France. |
| Mayor of Melun | Served as Mayor of Melun from 1989 to 2002. |
| Entrepreneurial Ventures | Founded a cycle store and later a accomplished appliance store, demonstrating a forward-thinking business acumen. |
| Key Infrastructure Projects | Instrumental in the pedestrianization of Melun’s city centre; spearheaded the media library project. |
| Local Governance | First president of Melun Val de Seine agglomeration community; brought modernization of judicial court . |
| Legacy | remembered as a visionary leader by peers and succeeding generations, a man of the community. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Jacques Marinelli
This section addresses common questions readers may have about the life and career of Jacques Marinelli, enhancing the article’s search visibility and providing more detailed details.
1. Who was Jacques Marinelli?
Jacques Marinelli was a multifaceted figure. He was a former professional cyclist, notable for wearing the yellow jersey in the 1949 Tour de france [[1]], and later the mayor of Melun from 1989 to 2002 [[1]]. He was a successful businessman and public servant, leaving an impact on the cycling community and the city of Melun.
2. What is Jacques Marinelli best known for in cycling?
Marinelli is mainly recognized for his remarkable cycling performance in the 1949 Tour de France, where he held the prestigious yellow jersey for six consecutive stages [[1]].
3. What were some of Jacques Marinelli’s main accomplishments as mayor of Melun?
As mayor, Marinelli was credited with a number of significant achievements, including the pedestrianization of Melun’s city center, the modernization of the judicial court, the project implementation of a new media library, and the creation of the district of the Melunaise agglomeration [[1]].
4. What role did Jacques Marinelli play in business?
Marinelli exhibited business acumen with his ownership of a cycle store [[1]].
5. Why the nickname “La Perruche”?
He was nicknamed “La Perruche” due to his small size [[1]].
6. What is his lasting legacy?
Marinelli is remembered as a man of the people who successfully balanced multiple roles in sports, business, and public service [[1]]. He left a positive mark with his efforts to modernize local infrastructure, create a more civic environment and support cultural projects in Melun [[1]].
