PAQUIN, Antoine
December 29, 1966 - May 23, 2017
It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Antoine Paquin. Son of his loving mother Josette Perreault and the late Raymond Paquin, brother Patrice Paquin (Maryse Laflamme), nephew Alexis Paquin and niece Florence Paquin. Survived by his devoted wife Kerry Pfahl and cherished sons Laurent, Nicholas and Adrien, in-laws Kathryn and Edmund Pfahl, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Antoine was a great man with extraordinary vitality who exuded a unique personal charm. He was both a visionary and a man of action, fuelled by an entrepreneurial determination to change the world through the use of technology. He was highly respected by friends and colleagues, both inside and outside the tech community. A true Renaissance man, Antoine's many interests included a deep appreciation of the arts, classic literature, science, capitalism, libertarianism, and an enduring belief in God and a higher power. His inspirations included Voltaire, Thomas Jefferson, Frédéric Bastiat, Eckhart Tolle, Roger Waters, Ron Paul, and local high-tech mentor and friend, the late Adam Chowaniec. An accomplished athlete, Antoine excelled at gymnastics, skiing, cycling, running, and through his determination completed many triathlons, marathons, and even an Ironman. In recent years, Antoine developed a passion for nature, meditation, yoga and self-discovery.
Antoine was born in Montreal and spent his formative years in Quebec, Algeria and France, which helped shape his international and cultural outlook. A fervent believer in the enduring value of education, Antoine attended Royal Military College B.Sc.Eng (Physics); Carleton University, BA (Systems & Computer Engineering), University of California, Irvine MSc (Material Science & Engineering), and most recently the Université du Québec en Outaouais, MA (Maîtrise en gestion de projet). For more than twenty years, Antoine helped define and shape the direction of several notable and innovative technology firms and was the recipient of numerous industry awards and recognition. After launching his high-tech career at Bell Northern Research (Nortel Networks), Antoine co-founded Skystone Systems Inc., the company with which he would achieve his first major success as CEO. Following the sale of Skystone to Cisco Systems in 1997, Antoine led a number of companies engaged in emerging technologies such as Bluetooth and GPS. These included Philsar Semiconductor Inc., BitFlash Inc., and Axiom Microdevices. As a partner at Rho Canada Ventures in Montreal, Antoine was instrumental in helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. Recently as founder and CEO of Solantro Semiconductor Inc., Antoine combined his expertise in semiconductors with the emerging field of alternate energy and his team continues to pursue his vision.
Antoine lived life to the fullest with a deep devotion to his family.
Friends and family are invited to visit at Beechwood Cemetery and Funeral Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, from 5 – 8 p.m. on Monday, June 5. A Memorial Service will be held in Beechwood's Sacred Space on Tuesday, June 6, at 11 o'clock.
In memory of Antoine, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health (theroyal.ca/foundation, 613-722-6521).