Philippe-Olivier Victor Faaland
Philippe-Olivier-Faaland
Philippe-Olivier Faaland is the beloved son of Robert and Maryline Faaland. He is also the love of Meng Xu’s life.
Philippe-Olivier was born on 11/13/1990 in Rockville, Maryland. He started reading books when he was a baby. He loves math, aerospace and Bach. He received his pilot license the day after he turned 16 years old. He started playing violin and piano, but playing organ became his favorite.
Philippe-Olivier studied Aerospace Engineering at Supaero in France in 2008. He moved to California in 2011 to pursue his Master‘s degree at Stanford, where he met his wife, Meng. Philippe-Olivier and Meng were married in Put-in-Bay, Ohio in 2015.
In 2017, Philippe-Olivier became a proud Amazonian. He loved solving problems by using math and code. He felt that he was lucky to find the perfect job and team.
Philippe-Olivier was a warrior during the past 13-month brain cancer battle. His spirit continues to inspire us, and his soul continues to shine.
Philippe-Olivier is no longer suffering. He is busy playing flight simulator, reading books, doing Nordic folk dancing, gardening, cooking, flying and listening to or playing classical music in Heaven now.
We will love and miss Philippe-Olivier dearly.
22 Responses to “Philippe-Olivier Victor Faaland”
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C’est avec beaucoup de tristesse que nous avons appris la disparition de Philippe-Olivier. Mon fils, Philippe, se joint à moi pour adresser à vous tous, la famille de Philippe-Olivier ainsi qu’à son épouse toutes nos condoléances et vous dire combien il restera dans nos pensées.
Isabelle Hauswald et Philippe Hauswald (phauswald@gmail.com)
Hello,
This is with great sorrow that I learnt today that my old friend passed away. We have not seen each other for a while and I unfortunately did not know about his illness.
We’ve been studying together in the same class in Versailles. POF has already been kind, joyful and thoughtful. Those 2 years spent together in Versailles where short but intense as the level was quite high to reach the engineering schools we aimed.
Nevertheless, as he was briant, POF easily managed to be accepted in the engineering school he always wanted: Supaéro (the famous aeronautic french engineering school). He could even choose a more famous engineering school regarding his great results, but as no other one was as specialised into aeronautic, he did not care. Other more prestigious ones were not worth Supaéro for POF. Most of us didn’t know really what we wanted to study after, but it was extraclear for him and this was inspiring.
Above studies, I shared a common passion with POF as we were both private pilots. I have to admit he also surpassed me in this field as I have not even managed to maintain my licence since I was in Versailles with him…
I also had the chance to get into an extra school project with him, producing a movie we played in. This was not worth a Hollywood masterpiece and the scenario was quite strange afterward but we spent great moments preparing and producing it. The name of this experimental movie was PETROVSKY and POF had largely written the script.
If you’ve not had the chance yet to watch this curiosity, I’ll share a link on Facebook to Jessica Marasia to enable her to download the movie.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the funeral ceremony (if it has not already been done) but me and all his french friends share with you all our condolences.
Time goes by and it has been a while since I’ve seen him. However I still remember his (kind of naive but sincere) laughter like it was yesterday. He will always be in our hearts.
Kind regards,
Samuel GAUDUIN
So sorry to hear about Philippe Olivier. We remember him as a baby and little boy. Have followed him on Facebook . Love to his family and may he be happy in his new place!!!!
I met Phil for the first time when we worked on a project at Rolls-Royce Energy, where he was leading the development of several gas turbine fluids systems. Phil was a brilliant engineer. Occasionally, when needing an outside-of-the-box thinking, I would stop by his desk to bounce off ideas. He always found an original way to approach the problem and despite many years of experience, each time I would learn something new and interesting from our discussions. Phil was one of the very few people at work who shared my passion for continuous learning, aerospace and classical music. I really enjoyed talking to him about Glen Gould, Debussy, AI, Systems Thinking and many other interesting subjects and he was always generous about sharing his knowledge with others. We also participated in the Diversity Fair at our company, for several times, where he represented France and I represented Azerbaijan. I was so surprised to see that he was such a talented chef. He was so proud of cooking those razor thin, delicious French crepes and I and my wife would make him a small plate of traditional Azeri pastries, which be enjoyed a lot. I am very grateful for knowing him and for his friendship. I will miss Phil greatly. Rest in piece dear friend.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Philippe-Olivier’s passing. It had been several years since we had been in contact, but I was always happy to see that he seemed to be thriving and exploring all his different passions including flying and traveling. He was one of the few people from the Lycée Rochambeau who, like me, chose to pursue his higher education in France and we had crossed paths on a flight home to the DC area for well-deserved vacation during the prépa years. I was happy (but not surprised!) when he told me that he had managed to get into the top French aeronautical engineering school and was well on his way to fulfilling his dream of working in that domain.
My sincerest condolences to his entire family in this difficult time. I will be keeping him and you in my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Sydney Dubois
J’ai fait la connaissance de POF durant nos études d’ingénieur à Supaéro sans avoir eu la chance de le revoir ensuite. Mais deux années ont suffit pour qu’il me laisse un excellent souvenir. POF n’était pas seulement brillant et passionné, il était aussi et surtout quelqu’un de très agréable, toujours calme et souriant, doté d’un sens de l’humour subtil et bienveillant. J’ai encore le souvenir du récit de ses premiers exploits en voltige aérienne qu’il nous racontait avec excitation, les yeux scintillants de plaisir !
Qu’il repose en paix. Je souhaite le meilleur à sa famille et à ses proches.
POF, je t’ai connu lors de nos études à Supaéro. Tu étais un camarade brillant, discret, passionné et toujours très bienveillant.
Je me souviens de ton rire en coin lorsque nous évoquions les problèmes idiots posés par nos profs, de la manière dont tu prononçais Macdonald’s (avec le vrai accent US), mais surtout d’avoir eu des discussions passionnées autour de l’aéronautique sur le seuil de ta chambre d’étudiant.
Papa Oscar, repose en paix… tu étais un Homme de l’Air et je t’imagine évoluant enfin librement au-dessus des nuages.
Le meilleur pour sa famille et ses proches.
Juliette Papa, pour quitter… à bientôt l’ami.
J’ai fait la connaissance de Philippe-Olivier (« mais appelez-moi POF », nous a-t-il rapidement dit) à Toulouse lors de nos études d’ingénieur (Supaéro). POF était quelqu’un que j’appréciais pour sa sympathie, son calme, sa bienveillance et sa bonne humeur. Je me rappelle de sa passion pour l’aéronautique qui l’a fait choisir cette belle école. Cette passion se voyait notamment dans les réponses qu’il apportait aux questions pointues de nos professeurs. Mais en plus d’être brillant, POF était un camarade sympathique et toujours prêt à rigoler. Je me souviens encore bien de lui au foyer de l’école, à jouer au babyfoot avec nous ou à plaisanter sur la journée écoulée.
POF, repose en paix. Toutes mes pensées à sa famille.
POF! On s’est rencontrés à Supaéro et vite on a cerné un personnage passionné par l’aéronautique! Il nous avait surpris car alors il était pilote d’avion depuis déjà quelques années sans être “pilote de voiture”. On a passé de super moments avec la “team”, puis on a beaucoup échangé quand on préparait notre séjour aux Etats-Unis pour le double diplôme. Puis nous nous sommes perdus de vue. Quel choc quand j’ai appris que tu t’es envolé bien plus loin que ne le permets tous les permis du monde. POF aura laissé des traces derrière lui, et quelles belles traces : humilité, passion, intelligence, gentillesse. Merci POF d’avoir tant partagé. Toutes mes pensées pour la famille.
Sending our Love and Prayers to Robert and Maryline. We are so sorry for your loss. Philippe Olivier was much too young. We know he is Heaven with all who has gone before. And they stood their with open arms to greet him.
Quelques jours après avoir appris cette terrible nouvelle, j’ai encore du mal à appréhender le fait que tu ne sois plus des nôtres. On s’était perdu de vue depuis Supaéro, mais j’étais persuadé que nos chemins se croiseraient de nouveau un jour, d’un côté ou de l’autre de l’Atlantique, toi qui était capable de traverser les océans juste pour le privilège de monter à bord d’un modèle particulier d’avion. Ta passion n’avait d’égale que ton talent. J’espère que tu as pu profité du rêve américain autant que la vie t’en as laissé le temps. Tu en méritais tellement plus. Mes sincères condoléances à toute ta famille, ta femme, tes proches. Adieu.
I worked with Bob in Rockville, MD. I know he and Maryline loved Philipe-Oliver. We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob, Maryline, and Meng and the extended family during this difficult time. May god bless you, comfort you, and give you peace.
C’est avec beaucoup de tristesse que j’ai appris que Philippe-Olivier n’est plus permis nous. J’ai fait sa connaissance en sixième au Lycée Rochambeau et l’ai côtoyé jusqu’en terminale, puis au Lycée Sainte Geneviève à Versailles en classes préparatoires. Je me souviens d’une discussion avec lui après une pâle (examen dans la jargon de Ginette) particulièrement douloureuse, durant laquelle il s’était efforcé à me réconforter. J’ai beaucoup apprécié son soutien, et étais content de le voir briller aux concours plusieurs mois après, lui permettant ainsi de réaliser son rêve d’aller à Supaéro.
Je lui souhaite de reposer en paix.
C’est avec beaucoup de tristesse que je viens d’apprendre la disparition de Philippe-Olivier.
Ayant été un de ses professeurs à Rochambeau, j’ai souvenir d’un élève très agréable, très curieux, qui questionnait systématiquement ce qu’il découvrait.
Aurore s’associe à nous pour vous adresser toutes nos condoléances et vous exprimer notre profonde sympathie dans cette terrible épreuve.
We here in the Washington community who knew Philippe-Olivier and watched him grow up are so so saddened by his passing. We remember his extraordinary talent as a musician and dancer, his intelligence and understanding well beyond his years, and his humor and energy. Maryline and Bob, you are constantly in our thoughts.
Chris and Rolf
We watched Philippe-Olivier grow as our sons did, as children of the Nordic Dancers. It is so hard to accept that he is gone. He had so much to offer the world. Bob, Maryline, and Meng, you have our family’s condolences.
Mary Louise and Rich, Stephen and Michael
Philippe-Olivier et moi avons parcouru un bon bout de chemin ensemble: d’’abord nous étions amis en primaire à Washington pour se retrouver bien plus tard dans la même classe en prépa, puis de nouveau à Stanford où il rencontra Meng. Nous nous amusions souvent ensemble de cet heureux hasard, et du fait que nos chemins étaient destinés à se recroiser. Plus récemment je me suis installé à Seattle, où j’apprends par cette triste nouvelle que POF y vivait aussi… malheursement je n’ai pas pu le revoir.
De l’enfant à l’adulte bien barbu qu’il était devenu, je garde avec moi son rire inébranlable, sa passion pour l’aéronautique et la Norvège (Norge! comme il me l’a appris).
Toutes mes pensées à ses parents et à Meng dans ces moments douloureux.
Honey, happy birthday!
Please accept my sincerely condolences… I just now hear about POF’s passing, and I cannot believe it. POF was so good natured, always smiling, and it goes without being said, the smartest in EVERY class. I haven’t spoken to him since Rochambeau, but to this day I keep a fond memory of him which is a testament to his character. May he rest in eternal peace. Warm thoughts to his family and loved ones.
My sincere condolences to POF’s family. I hadn’t been in contact with him since our days in Terminale S at Lycée Rochambeau, where he shone with his brilliance. What I most remember from him is his smile and laughter-I literally cannot think of a memory of him where he was not smiling. I hope he is continuing to smile, and that he has found peace. Sending much support to his family.
My condolences to Philippe’s family. I worked with him at Amazon, we joined around the same time and almost weekly had long idea sharing sessions. I loved talking to him, and he was a way better experimenter/thinker/doer than I have ever been. I had not been in touch with him after I changed teams at Amazon and was not aware of his illness. Sending love to him and his family.
I was walking around in Bellevue today and stumbled upon a park bench along Lake Washington with Philippe’s name. I recognized the name right away, but couldn’t believe it to be the same guy I used to talk to about airplanes and flight simulator at Rolls-Royce. My deepest condolences to the family. It brought me great sadness to learn what happened to Philippe. I sat on the bench and immediately knew from the view of the meaning behind it. Rest In Peace Philippe.