victor 
Is this your cousin? Found his picture on the internet.
First in his math class, sealed [and sailed to] his fame as the family genius by dropping out of college claiming they could not teach him anything he already did not know.
Became a journeyman on construction sites where he was bending rebars. Always correcting the record. His letters to the editors were published in newspapers from Pravda to PLO publications to Le Monde.

Pretentious

Why all these post titles in french? and do they eat at tables in l'orient?

Portes de l'orient

In restaurants in NYC they seat couples on opposite ends of a table. Where I grew up they seat couples on adjoining sides -close to each other. Over there the important action is not what's on the table but what is going on under the table.