In Memoriam – Alain Cerf — 1934 – August 7, 2024
Alain A. Cerf, founder of the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum and noted Citroën collector and enthusiast, peacefully passed away in his sleep in the early hours of August 7th, 2024, at the age of 90. Alain is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elisabeth Cerf, their two children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Born in Paris in 1934, Alain’s inquisitive mind and thirst for knowledge earned him a place at the prestigious Lycée Henri IV in the heart of the city. There, he excelled among his French peers in literature, mathematics, engineering, philosophy, and more. Many of his classmates went on to become well-known figures in French society. During his time at school, Alain received a travel grant to study hydraulic dams, which led him to hitchhike from France to Brazil and back.
Alain met Elisabeth on a cruise ship to Greece, a gift from his parents. Despite her initial impression of him as an inquisitive young man who asked too many questions, it turned out to be a rewarding encounter as they would go on to spend 65 years together. Elisabeth, who was born to a Sicilian father and a French mother, moved with Alain to the French countryside, away from Paris, where they had twin boys and founded an innovative company that manufactured equipment for bundling consumer products.
Alain proved to be an extraordinary engineer, receiving many patents and always challenging the status quo, constantly questioning why, and never accepting no for an answer.
While building his remarkable company, Polypack Inc., Alain remained an adventurer. He drove from France to India and back not once, but twice, and traveled the world while opening plants in various European countries. His ultimate dream was to bring his family to the United States of America. Driving the same car that had taken them to India, the family traveled to Genoa, Italy, and boarded the ship Michelangelo bound for New York. Passing the Statue of Liberty, Alain drove on to Tampa, Florida. Within a few days of arriving in Florida, Alain declared, “Next year, we will open a manufacturing facility here.” True to his word, he purchased the home they lived in for 51 years and established operations in the United States.
A true Renaissance man, Alain had a passion for music, art, architecture, cars, and astronomy at the highest levels. He undertook many remarkable projects, from reconstructing the first self-propelled vehicle ever, the Fardier by Cugnot, writing books, to founding the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. Vehicles include pioneering front wheel drive and rear engine cars from the 1920’s and 1930’s, and each one was chosen based on the engineering achievements that made it an important part of the evolution of the automobile. Featured are nine Citroëns, including a 1931 Kegresse Half Track — survivor of the Citroën-Haardt Expedition ‘La Croisiere Jaune’ that commenced on April 4th, 1931 in Beirut, Lebanon, and followed Marco Polo’s Silk Road route to Beijing, China, a 1961 twin engine, 4-wheel drive 2CV Sahara and a 1975 GS Birotor.
https://www.tbauto.org/car-collection
Alain was extremely proud of the rare documentation he collected about the attempted development of automatic transmissions for the Citroën Traction Avant. Although never put into production, about 20 prototypes were made based on the Sensaud de Lavaud automatic transmission — a “gearless” automatic, using the torque-converter alone to match engine revolutions to the drivetrain revolutions, much like the Dynaflow Transmission introduced later in the USA.
When referred to as a patron of the arts, Alain humbly replied, “I am not a patron; I simply enjoy the arts.” Alain’s legacy will endure for a long time in Tampa Bay, where his entire family resides and remains actively involved in their beloved community.
Alain est un personnage de la saga familiale et, avec Elisabeth , ma marraine, ses deux fils, nos cousins, restent ces aventuriers partis s’installer en Floride, ou nous les avions retrouvés en 2019.
A Riablay ils ont relevé avec goût et passion , le manoir tombé en désuétude.
Passionné de lecture et de livres rares, Alain était un interlocuteur de choix pour la libraire que je suis, et son inlassable quête d’ouvrages rares l’a entraîné à créer une bibliothèque incroyable dont il était tout aussi fier que son musée de voitures anciennes à Tampa. Un homme passionné dont l’esprit bouillonnant n’était jamais en repos.
Translate: Alain is a character in the family saga and, with Elisabeth, my godmother, his two sons, our cousins, remain these adventurers who left to settle in Florida, where we found them in 2019.
In Riablay they have restored with taste and passion, the manor that had fallen into disuse.
Passionate about reading and rare books, Alain was a choice interlocutor for the bookseller that I am, and his tireless quest for rare works led him to create an incredible library of which he was just as proud as his museum of vintage cars in Tampa. A passionate man whose bubbling mind was never at rest.
Mes Amies,
Je connais Alian avec les voitures . Comme les Salmson et les autres.
I did not know him that well, but by contact at Hershey and of course
by telephone and email.
A very, very nice and different man.
I am so sorry
J’ai eu la chance de débuter ma carrière en 1968 chez Polypack avec monsieur Alain Cerf. Très bon patron juste généreux et accessible. J’ai appris beaucoup de choses avec lui. J’ai eu l’occasion de le rencontrer lors de sa dernière venue à Château du Loir.
Je présente toutes mes condoléances à madame Cerf ainsi qu’à ses deux fils.
Rémi Hupenoire
I had the chance to start my career in 1968 at Polypack with Mr. Alain Cerf. Very good boss, just generous and accessible. I learned a lot with him. I had the opportunity to meet him during his last visit to Château du Loir.I offer my condolences to Mrs. Cerf and her two sons.
Rémi Hupenoire