“É na Califórnia que estou destinado a terminar a minha vida.”
Pedro de Alcantara Brazileiro de Saisset faleceu em 16 de março de 1902 “depois de uma longa doença”, conforme consta em algumas anotações. O corpo dele descansa no Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, na Califórnia, no mausoléu da família de Saisset, onde também estão os corpos da esposa Jesusita, morta em 1907, e da filha Isabel. Em dezembro de 1889, passou pelo baque de perder o filho Ernest, que lutou a vida toda contra problemas respiratórios. Pierre, o outro filho, sempre se manteve mais afastado dos pais e dos irmãos. Acabou deserdado pela mãe, em 1905.
Durante seus últimos anos, Pedro mostrou-se saudoso da França e dos antigos colegas do Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Fazia planos de visitar a terra natal, mas tinha consciência de que sua saúde era fator impeditivo para a longa viagem. Ao convite do amigo Bertrand de Montesquiou responde que “...não estou em condições de me propiciar este prazer, meu caro almirante, é na Califórnia que estou destinado a terminar a minha vida.” E prossegue na carta com a explicação. “Eu considerei, por um momento, a possibilidade de rever a França. Ainda não renunciei a esta ideia, mantenho as esperanças, mesmo que este dia me pareça distante (...) deixo-me guiar pela minha boa estrela...rever meus velhos amigos (se é que tais ainda existem), mas tenho muito medo de abrir a caixa de Pandora!”
Nos dias de hoje, Pedro de Saisset seria descrito com o alguém que soube pensar fora da caixa e enxergar além daquilo que se consegue ver. A falta de acolhimento por parte da família imperial brasileira o abalou, é verdade, mas não ao ponto de levá-lo a desistir do que havia construído na Califórnia.
A resiliência era algo que ele tinha aprendido na prática. Afinal, quando chegou naquela parte do mundo, em 1849, passou pelo dissabor de ser enganado e perder todo os recursos financeiros.
Apesar das adversidades, não desistiu. Seguiu adiante com a vida que seria possível, a partir daquele momento. Na Califórnia, foi de estivador a empresário de sucesso. Casou-se com Jesusita e com ela teve sete filhos, tendo três falecido logo após o nascimento. Na companhia da esposa e das outras quatro crianças, levou uma vida digna e feliz.
The De Saisset: Pedro (Part II)
“It is in California that I am destined to end my life”
Pedro de Alcantara Brazileiro de Saisset died on March 16, 1902 “after a long illness,” as noted in some documents. His body rests at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery in California, in the Saisset family mausoleum, where the remains of his wife Jesusita, who died in 1907, and the ones of three of his four children – Ernest, Henriette and Isabel - are also located. In December 1899, he went through the shock of losing Ernest, who had struggled his entire life with respiratory problems. Pierre, the other son, was always more distant from his parents and brothers. He was eventually disowned by his mother in 1905.
During his last years, Pedro was nostalgic for France and his former colleagues at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. He made plans to visit his homeland, but was aware that his health was an impediment to the long journey. When invited by friend Bertrand de Montesquiou, he replied that “... I am not in a position to provide myself with such a pleasure, my dear admiral, it is in California that I am destined to end my life.” And he goes on in the letter offering an explanation. “I considered, for a moment, the possibility of revisiting France. I still haven't given up on this idea and keep my hopes, even if this day seems distant to me (...) I let myself be guided by my good star... to see my old friends again (if such still exist), but I am somehow afraid of opening Pandora's box!"
Nowadays, Pedro de Saisset would be described as someone who knew how to think outside the box and see beyond what lies before him. The lack of acceptance by the Brazilian imperial family shook him, there is no denial about that, but not to the point of making him give up what he had built in California.
Resilience was something he had learned on the job. After all, in 1849 when he arrived in that part of the world, he went through the unpleasantness of being deceived and losing all his financial resources.
Despite all the adversities, he did not give up and moved on with the life that was possible from that moment on. In California, he went from longshoreman to successful businessman. He married Jesusita and had seven children with her, three of whom died shortly after birth. In the company of his wife, their four children and the three kids of Jesusita’s first marriage, he lived a dignified and happy life.