For twenty-two years, from 1987 to 2009, he ran the Conservatoire libre du cinéma français and produced the films of young directors. His epitaph comes down to a name and two dates: it is a symbol carved straight into the slab, and that alone, which tells of his Masonic membership.
The story
This is one of the most recent graves in the group. Born in 1948, Patrick Zampa crossed the second half of the twentieth century as a freemason, and died in 2017.
He lies in Division 23, the division of the painter Ingres and of the glassmaker René Lalique — two graves visitors come looking for, in a division where nobody comes looking for his.
The grave
A recent slab on the chemin Adanson, where the inscription goes no further than “Patrick ZAMPA, 1948-2017”. It is the Masonic symbol, cut straight into the stone, that alone declares his allegiance: nothing there points to the twenty-two years he spent running the Conservatoire libre du cinéma français, the private film school founded in 1963, where he trained film technicians and produced the work of young directors. He was buried here on 8 January 2018, eleven days after his death.
On site, do not miss
The name, the dates, and a Masonic symbol carved straight into the slab. Division 23 is also that of the painter Ingres and the master glassmaker René Lalique.
Visitors' questions
Where is Patrick Zampa's grave at Père-Lachaise?
In Division 23, Chemin Adanson, first row. It is one of the most recent graves in this division, which is also home to the painter Ingres and the master glassmaker René Lalique.
Jean-Auguste-Dominique INGRESWho was Patrick Zampa?
A film producer and a teacher of cinema. Born in 1948, he ran the Conservatoire libre du cinéma français from 1987 to 2009 and produced the work of young directors. He died on 28 December 2017, aged sixty-nine, and was buried the following 8 January.
René LALIQUEWhat is on Patrick Zampa's gravestone?
A name, two dates and a symbol. The inscription is limited to “Patrick ZAMPA, 1948-2017”, but the Freemasons' symbol is carved into the slab — the only sign on the stone of his commitment.
Alexandre LEDRU-ROLLINWhat is the Conservatoire libre du cinéma français?
A private Paris film school, founded in 1963, which trains students in the technical and artistic trades of filmmaking. Patrick Zampa ran it for twenty-two years, from 1987 to 2009.
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