LAUSANNE, Switz., July 17, 2023 – The FIE is saddened to learn of the passing of Jacques A. Hochstaetter (SUI, MH, HOF), born in 1928 in Geneva, Switzerland. An FIE Member of Honour and member of the FIE Hall of Fame, he was a member of the FIE Executive Committee from 1977 to 1996, including serving as Vice President from 1989 to 1996.
Mr. Hochstaetter was a member of the FIE Statutes Committee from 1977 to 1996, over which he presided from 1993 to 1996. He drafted numerous texts and rules, most notably the first rule on publicity, enabling brands to be added on athletes’ equipment and to use fencers’ images in advertisements, which facilitated the process of finding sponsors.
In 1987, he proposed to the FIE Congress to vote on several modifications of the rules, introducing their separation between fencers and the public with a barrier. While a controversial move at the time, the change proved his position was correct and since that time has contributed greatly to increased order being maintained on and around competition pistes.
“We are greatly saddened by the passing of Jacques Hochstaetter, an esteemed member of our federation and also of the FIE”, said Lars Frauchiger, President of the Swiss Fencing Federation. “His lifelong commitment and especially his foresight had an outstanding effect on the sport of fencing that we know and love today. We recognise and are grateful for his dedication and we offer his family our heartfelt condolences.”
Mr. Hochstaetter also served several times on the Directoire Technique at World Championships and was the technical delegate to the Mediterranean Games in Athens and Nimes.
In 2002, he was awarded the gold medal for Sporting Merit by the French Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Within the Swiss Fencing Federation, he was part of the council from 1967 to 1987 and presided over the Technical Commission. Several times he served as the Chief of the Swiss Delegation to the World Championships and Olympic Games.
From 1960 to 1982, Mr. Hochstaetter was President of the Geneva Fencing Society, of which he is an Honorary President, and he was the promoter and organiser of the “Gascogne Cadets” section of young fencers.
Mr. Hochstaetter took part in numerous sports, fencing in particular, in which he was a fencing master and practiced for more than 50 years. He always strived to promote both national and international fencing.
In his education and career, he studied law at the University of Geneva, being admitted to the bar in 1952. Following that, he opened his own legal office, which he ran until 1973, followed by joining a colleague to establish a legal office that is still in operation today. There he handled national and international cases dealing with property, tourism, finance and corporate administration.
Mr. Hochstaetter also was a professor of law at the École supérieure de Commerce (Higher School of Business) from 1952 to 1972, a Deputy Judge at the Court of First Instance from 1971 to 1991 and a member of the Commission for Final Internship Exams from 1978 to 1993.
Internationally, he was the World President of the International Association of Young Lawyers from 1972 to 1973, a member of the International Union of Lawyers and the European Association of Lawyers, and he sat on the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for the International Olympic Committee from 1985 to 1995.
The FIE extends its sincere condolences to Jacques Hochstaetter’s family and friends, the Swiss Fencing Federation and the European Fencing Confederation. We express our deepest sympathy to them during this difficult time.