Raphael Marcel Herrisé

Raphael Marcel Herrisé was born on 08 August 1944, in a small village in the Alps, Le Pont de Beauvoisin, Isere, France, while his whole family was in exile from the German Regime from the German Invasion of France in WWII. The German Regime had taken over the Commercial Nursery and home of the Herrisé Family.

After the end of WWII, the family was restored to their home, their commercial nursery, and their properties. He was raised in Bollwiller, (Alsace Region) in Eastern France.

He passed away at San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco, CA, 20 September 2018 in the presence of several close friends and associates.

He went to school and graduated from High School in the Alsace, France Area. When he was 17, he adventurously set off to the big city of Paris, France and studied Hair Coiffure at the L'OREAL headquarters School of Coiffure. He graduated from there and the hair business became the main career in his life.

He honorably served his obligatory 2 year duty in the French Military. From the discipline that was instilled in him from his training in the military, he made is bed every morning, making STRICKLY sure it would pass the French Military bed-making standards.

He soon moved to New Caledonia, a French Colony of the South Pacific, and practiced there as a Beautician. He always said that on the Island where he lived, it was the opposite of being in a fish bowl; “If humans have an aquarium, they are looking in on the fish from the big outside world. On the island, the fish are looking in at the humans from the big outside ocean.”

He eventually got "Island Phobia" and moved from New Caledonia to San Francisco and worked as a beautician in several beauty salons including: Rincon Center, Japan Town, etc. Eventually he opened his own business, The Raphael Salon and Art Gallery, Union Square, San Francisco, California where he displayed his artwork, designed, colored, and cut hair in a totally Zen designed, gorgeous setting of Japanese Interior Décor.

He was also certified in scalp treatments and worked wonders on treating scalps and restoring hair. Raphael had a special gift in studying, understanding, and cutting and styling Asian Hair. His Asian Clients loved and adored him immensely. He also had a large male clientele and was highly respected by them.

He was a meticulous bookkeeper and always, when he came home from work, went straight to his home office and did the day's accounting and book reconciling before changing out of his work clothes.

He was a member of one of the local gyms, went three times a week, and looked at least 20 years younger than his age. Taking care of himself, physically, mentally, and nutritionally was always at the top of his list.

He graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco on 14 Jan. 2000. His breads, his pastries, his meals, and his desserts were to die for. He was constantly reading cuisine books and recipes from different cultures throughout the world. He would tweak these in his mind before preparing a spectacular meal, adding his own additions, and exclaiming at the dinner table, "Enjoy this meal, because you'll never get the same one again."

He could also fix or repair anything that broke down around the house or invent something that could make the house a better home. It was AMAZING.

He also was an EXTRAORINARY artist and weaver.

Please enjoy the below quote, in his own words, from his self-designed, art gallery website: www.raphaelherrise.com


*****

"I spent my childhood in total nature at my father’s commercial nursery in Eastern France. Later, I started traveling around the world and discovered so many surreal places. I realized that nature is the best artist.

In my work, I am creating an interaction of colors and shapes which is always changing in different lights. As in nature, the closer you look, the more abstract details will be discovered. By using my own weaving technique in most of my paintings and sculptures, and, by using webbing paint in others, I attempt to recreate the interweaving that you find in nature.

-Everything is connected.-

MY ART SHCOOL BACKGROUND:

Beaux Art - Mulhouse, France

De Young Museum Art School - San Francisco, CA

Studied Weaving, Clay Sculpture, Color and Design, Pottery, Various Types of Painting Classes

Other Diverse Art Classes in the San Francisco, CA Bay Area
Handmade Paper, Felt Making, and French Aubusson Tapestry.
These are classes that helped me create my own personal art style.

I have shown my artwork in art galleries and art shows through the years in and around San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, Mendocino, Halfmoon Bay, Benicia, ST Helena, and San Jose California.

Some of my Art Commissions of Paintings and Sculptures are owned by collectors in the USA, France, Denmark, Russia, Australia, New Caledonia, and Barbados."

*****

Raphael had a GREAT love for cars. His father had owned several Bugatti's as family cars throughout the years. He always enjoyed talking about cars and, on a couple of occasions, attended the Concours d'Elegance car show in Pebble Beach. Here's a list taken from his Pinterest Page of cars that he had personally owned:

Citroen 2CV, Simca 1000, Austin Sprite, Triumph Spitfire, Fiat 1500, MG B, Renault 6, VW Thing , Buick 1947, Jaguar Mk 1, Renault 5, Ford Thunderbird 1978, Ford Crown Victoria 1993, Mercedes 190E, Mercedes 300E, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Nissan Frontier Pro 4X with matching Campershell.

He always got the biggest kick when talking about the Citroën duex Chevaux.

Raphael was preceded in death by his parents; father, Ferdinand Herrisé, mother, (nee) Marie Louise Bucher; and sister, Marie -Blanche. He is survived by two brothers, Georges and Jean Herrisé, brother-in-law, Michel Villatte, a niece; four nephews; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Per his wishes his cremains will be laid to rest in Pocatello. Graveside services for the interment will be held 20 September, the third anniversary of his passing at the Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello, Idaho, USA.

Raphael was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church. We entrust the soul of Raphael to God our merciful Father and full of Love for each of us, to the Virgin Mary whom we have been praying since 2018 to intercede for the repose of Raphael's soul.