Camembert Francis de Santiago was born to a French mother, Belle Poulet, who encountered “the love of her life” during a free range vacation in northwest Spain.  Although his mother took the name “de Santiago,” CF de S never met his father.

Camembert, or “Cam” as his friends called him, was a noble rooster – or coq (in French) – and enjoyed a distinguished academic career writing several books, including the well-known masterpiece El Gallo et Coq Galuois:  Rooster Symbolism in Spain and France in the Middle Ages.

While he shunned politics in general, he briefly led the ill-fated campaign to free the caged chickens of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Toward the end of his life, he sought to explore his Spanish roots. In Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, on Monday, April 21, 2025, he began to travel the Camino with two human companions. 

Finding sympathetic ears in these and many other pilgrims, he shared stories of his colorful, at times difficult, youth.  Often following a long and arduous day’s journey on the Camino, Cam’s best stories were enhanced by a drink or two (or three…).

On the morning of his surprising death, he tumbled from a cafe chair, losing his head and his life.  A coroner’s investigation, required due to allegations of nefarious misconduct, determined cause of death as accidental.

CF de S never married.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Belle Poulet, and is survived by his twin brother, Roquefort Leon de Santiago. CF de S  is sorely missed by his Camino family, Lisa, Minke, Stephanie, Lisa #2, Jill, Maggie, and many others.

In lieu of flowers or donations, please consider walking a Camino in his name.

RIP, Camembert Francis de Santiago

(Written primarily by guest author Minke, with photos and a bit of input from Lisa.)