Jean Lesieur is not a name familiar to many Boston Guardian readers. He was, however, an invaluable resource to us and a sharp, but objective critic of our issues.

Jean passed away a fortnight ago at his apartment in Paris.

He was an international correspondent and editor for the French news magazines Le Point and L'Express. He also served as an editor and editorial consultant for the Hachette-Filipacchi publishing group in New York and in Paris.

In 2006, he joined the team that created and developed the French international news channel, France 24, broadcast in French, in English, and in Arabic. Lesieur would spend hours with us when he was in Boston regaling us with the back stories behind so many international events and suggesting ways of improving our content.

He could be undiplomatic in his critiques, but then again, journalism is not for timid and oversensitive people.

We were honored to know and to learn from him.