The death of the ferry accordionist, a man well known to Lévis residents and ferry users, will leave a great void as he spent several decades illuminating the daily lives of passengers with his sweet music and his eternal smile.
Marcel Aubin was a known face at the Quebec-Lévis crossing. Before the pandemic, for many years, the man was there every day, playing the accordion on one of the ships or at the entrance to the crossing in Lévis.
The musician, whom many call a “monument”, died last Thursday. The causes of his death are unknown, but according to a merchant from Lévis who knew him for a long time, he was hospitalized for several weeks, before being transferred to a CHSLD shortly before his death.
“He had been isolated for two and a half years because of the pandemic. It made him sad,” says Michaëll Deschamps Robin, manager of the Bonté Divine café in Lévis.
Before the health crisis, the musician visited the café located just in front of the crossbar daily for 11 years, underlines Mr. Deschamps Robin.
“He had his tea every evening before going to play at the station of the traverse, he continues. He spread happiness.”
Many users of the crossing also have fond memories of Mr. Aubin.
“People, especially tourists, liked him. We had a kind of compassion for him, knowing that he did not live in wealth. The Société des traversiers did not prevent him from making crossings on its ships. He had his V.I.P pass. It’s like a monument that has just left,” said Dave Tremblay, who was a passenger for many years.
“He clearly marked the large clientele of the ferry with his inspiring music, at times melancholy and at other times upbeat and festive. It looked like it was part of the walls of the ferry and will be there forever,” adds Anne-Marie Veillette, another ferry user.
