Eric Ciotti, President of the General Council:
“I have just learned with emotion of the passing of Didier Rochette, Director of the Culture Department at the General Council, and my thoughts go out to his mother, his son Thomas, his entire family, and his colleagues to whom I extend my heartfelt sympathy.
The injustice of the illness overcame Didier Rochette’s determination and courage. He had been deeply affected by the death of his wife, whom he supported with care and affection in her own battle against the terrible ailment that afflicted her.
Having joined the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes in 2005, he was committed to giving a new impetus to the Department’s cultural policy, making it accessible to all and providing everyone with the opportunity to discover, especially, classical music and contemporary creation, in all their forms.
In this perspective, he established a unit dedicated to designing and implementing major musical events. His great pride was the tremendous success of C’est pas classique, which, from its first edition in 2005, captivated the people of Nice, with its success growing year after year.
With 06 en scène, he provided the General Council with the opportunity to give contemporary artists from different backgrounds a platform to express themselves, share their passions, and inspire new vocations.
His passion for contemporary creation went hand in hand with his respect for the past and all forms of artistic expression. Notably, he supported archaeological excavation programs, worked determinedly to obtain the “Land of Art and History” label for the Bévéra Valley, and successfully negotiated the acquisition by the General Council of the Mercury cinema, dedicated to art-house films.
Appreciated by the cultural world and dedicated to our community, Didier Rochette brought a breath of modernity, openness, and generosity to the cultural policy of the General Council. The significant popularity of the events he organized constitutes a deserved acknowledgment from the people of Alpes-Maritimes for his sense of creativity and his talent as an organizer.”
Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis:
“A few hours ago, I learned with great sadness of Didier Rochette’s passing.
A senior civil servant, he worked for several years within the culture service of the City of Nice. In 2005, he joined the General Council and took over the direction of the cultural service.
When I was President of the General Council, I chose this art enthusiast to create a major popular musical event, ‘C pas classique’, which has now become an essential cultural event attracting more than 60,000 spectators at each edition.
In all his roles, Didier Rochette demonstrated his professional and human qualities. He will be remembered as a charismatic and energetic personality.
Affected by the death of his wife, he struggled to recover from this tragedy. He leaves behind a son and a mother in deep sorrow.
I sympathize with the pain of his family, his loved ones, and his colleagues at the General Council, and I offer them my deepest and sincerest condolences.
