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Remembering notable locals we lost in 2019
1/82
AP
Malcolm "Mac" Rebennack Jr., better known as Dr. John, the pianist, singer and songwriter known as worldwide ambassador for New Orleans music.
2/82
Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Art Neville, the eldest member of the city’s first family of funk, famous for founding and performing with seminal music groups the Meters and the Neville Brothers.
3/82
NOLA.com
Leah Chase, the beloved “queen of Creole cuisine” whose Dooky Chase’s restaurant in Treme served two U.S. presidents and stood as a landmark of the Civil Rights era.
4/82
AP
Cokie Roberts, political reporter and analyst at ABC News and NPR, whose parents, Hale and Lindy Boggs, were political legends in Washington, D.C. and their native New Orleans.
5/82
WWL-TV
Vaughan Johnson, a hard-hitting linebacker who was famously part of the New Orleans Saints' "Dome Patrol" in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
6/82
Arthur Hardy
Ronnie Virgets, a longtime New Orleans print and broadcast journalist, writer, columnist and Emmy award-winning feature reporter.
7/82
Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group
Chef Michael Uddo, who made his mark on the New Orleans dining scene in the 1990s with G&E Courtyard Grill.
8/82
Contributed photo
William Detweiler, who advocated for fellow military veterans as National Commander of the American Legion and a leader of the National WWII Museum.
9/82
NOLA.com
New Orleans chef Carl Schaubhut, who gained acclaim for opening two restaurants, DTB and Bacobar.
10/82
EJGH
Dr. Mark Peters, a physician who led East Jefferson General Hospital for 15 years as its chief executive officer.
11/82
Jim Pennison/WVUE
Nancy Parker, an award-winning anchor at WVUE-TV, whose 30 years in broadcasting developed her reputation for covering hard news with heart.
12/82
AP
Former Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana’s first female chief executive.
13/82
Provided Photo
C.J. Morgan, a popular and top-rated morning radio host in New Orleans for nearly two decades.
14/82
WWLTV
Chuck Edwards, longtime New Orleans Saints and Pelicans public address announcer.
15/82
Tropical Isle
Earl Bernhardt, the co-founder of the Tropical Isle bar and co-inventor of the world famous "Hand Grenade" beverage.
16/82
NOLA.com
Ray Brandt, one of Louisiana’s most successful car dealers, whose automotive group grew to 11 dealerships and led to his generous philanthropy.
17/82
AP
Ernest Gaines, the acclaimed author of 'A Lesson Before Dying' and 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman."
18/82
Courtesy of @HollyClegg (Facebook)
Holly Clegg, cookbook author and Advocate food columnist.
19/82
NOLA.com
The Rev. Jerome LeDoux, who pastored St. Augustine Catholic Church in Treme as it successfully fought off closure after Hurricane Katrina.
20/82
Contributed photo
Don Brady, an award-winning local theater director, actor and longtime drama professor at Loyola University.
21/82
Contributed photo
Rev. Samson “Skip” Alexander, a New Orleans pastor, civil rights leader and photographer who befriended and worked alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
22/82
U.S. Coast Guard
James "Jimmy" Coleman Jr., a businessman, philanthropist and developers whose properties included the Hilton Riverside & Windsor Court Hotel.
23/82
NOLA.com
Wesley Schmidt, owner of Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, grand marshal of Storyville Stompers and a founder of MOMS Ball.
24/82
NOLA.com
Former Jefferson Parish Councilman T.J. “Butch” Ward, who etched a 24-year career on the council before term limits forced his retirement.
25/82
Jesuit High School
Paul Frederick, a longtime teacher, administrator and principal at Jesuit High School.
26/82
WYES
Rolland Golden, the acclaimed Louisiana artist whose realist paintings earned him an international following and exhibitions around the world.
27/82
Benny Grunch
Allen "Alpo" Poche, local musician and guitarist who was a member of the local favorite Benny Grunch and the Bunch.
28/82
Walton and Johnson/Facebook
John Walton (left), of the "Walton and Johnson" comedy radio duo which began in New Orleans in the 1980s and became syndicated nationally.
29/82
Contributed photo
Peter Lambousy, who worked at several TV stations, including WWL-TV, as a photojournalist.
30/82
NOLA.com
Spencer Bohren, a much-respected and widely traveled New Orleans folk- and blues-based guitarist and visual artist, whose career spanned more than 50 years.
31/82
NOLA.com
Frank France, who educated generations of New Orleans-area children at Kehoe-France School, a private school he founded with his wife.
32/82
Advocate
Isaac Joseph, who led the Jefferson Parish public school system as its first African-American superintendent.
33/82
Contributed photo
Manuel Randazzo Sr., a co-creator of the Randazzo king cake and the last surviving co-creator of the Randazzo family recipe.
34/82
NOLA.com/Advocate
Otis Washington, whose stellar coaching career included years at St. Augustine High School, LSU and Southern University.
35/82
NOLA.com
William “Bill” Oliver, a former president of AT&T Louisiana who also had been chairman of the New Orleans economic alliance GNO Inc.
36/82
Contributed photo
Dave Bartholomew, the music producer, songwriter, trumpeter and bandleader whose chart-topping partnership with Fats Domino helped create rock ‘n’ roll.
37/82
Advocate
Gordon Burgess, who led Tangipahoa Parish as its parish president for three decades.
38/82
NOLA.com
Attorney Henry Julien Jr., a former prosecutor, assistant state attorney general, and Orleans Parish Civil District Court judge (as was his wife).
39/82
Provided Photo/David G. Spielman
Barry Fox, a New Orleans architect celebrated not only for the homes he designed but also for his dedication to historic preservation.
40/82
Provided Photo
Hays Thompson Jr., who worked for WWL-TV for 17 years in the 1960s and 70s as production manager.
41/82
NOLA.com
Leigh “Little Queenie” Harris, a star of the New Orleans music scene in the 1970s and 80s with her band Li’l Queenie and the Percolators.
42/82
Jesuit High School
Br. William "Billy" Dardis, S.J., who spent more than 55 years at Jesuit High School with a range of assignments that included alumni director special projects and cheerleader moderator.
43/82
Provided Photo
Judge Angelique Reed, the first African-American judge to serve on New Orleans' First City Court and the senior judge there.
44/82
Facebook/Jamie Hayes
Jamie Hayes, the artist whose whimsical paintings (shown at his French Quarter gallery) were collected by fans all over the world.
45/82
NOLA.com
Capt. Theophile Bourgeois, beloved fishing guide, charter boat captain and pilot.
46/82
Provided photo
Ardley Hanemann Jr., former president of Cabrini High School who also worked in public relations and leadership for Jesuit, Lykes Bros. & Orpheus.
47/82
NOLA.com
Franklin J.P. Augustus, stunt pilot, flight instructor, president of the Lake Charles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. and a mentor to local at-risk youth.
48/82
WWL-TV
Roland Von Kurnatowski, businessman and former owner of Tipitina’s and the Orpheum Theater.
49/82
NOLA.com
Berthe Amoss, who built a career as an author and illustrator of children's books. She also taught, designed Advent calendars and wrote a column on children’s literature for The Times-Picayune.
50/82
NOLA.com
Bob Fortus, a longtime Times-Picayune writer who won national awards for his painstaking coverage of horse racing in New Orleans over three decades.
51/82
Provided by Long family
Cathy Long, who continued a family legacy of service by winning her husband Rep. Gillis Long’s seat in Congress after his death.
52/82
Tulane University
Dr. Luis Balart, a specialist in diseases of the liver who helped develop a cure for hepatitis C.
53/82
Offbeat
Ricky Paulin, jazz clarinetist who played with the band of his late father, Ernest “Doc” Paulin, as well as his siblings in the Paulin Brothers Brass Band.
54/82
Provided photo
Carley McCord, a Louisiana sports journalist and daughter-in-law of LSU Offensive Coordinator Steve Ensminger.
55/82
WWOZ
David "Jelly Roll Justice" Averbuck, a longtime disc jockey and program host at WWOZ Radio.
56/82
Provided photo
Charles Detraz, a local salesman and actor whose credits included dozens of commercials, feature films and TV appearances.
57/82
Gambit
D. Eric Bookhardt, a photographer, art critic and contributor to numerous publications including Gambit.
58/82
Vincent & Bella Productions/Infrogmation/Wikimedia Commons
Connie Jones, a trumpeter and cornet player well known in traditional jazz circles here and across the country.
59/82
NOLA.com
Morris Reed Jr., a personal injury and criminal defense attorney well known in the New Orleans legal community.
60/82
NOLA.com
Jerry Jumonville, a colorful New Orleans saxophonist whose distinctive tone decorated recordings and performances by local and national artists.
61/82
NOLA.com
Marjorie Cowen, who had been a university administrator in Cleveland before moving here with her husband, Scott Cowen, former Tulane University president.
62/82
Photo from LinkedIn
Capt. Vincent Liberto, Jr., the Mandeville Police Captain who was shot and killed in the line of duty in September.
63/82
NOLA.com
Charles Malachias, who opened, owned and operated the French Quarter restaurant Café Maspero for 43 years.
64/82
NOLA.com
Abbie Jewel “Kitty” West, who dazzled Bourbon Street audiences in the 1950s and 60s as her alter ego, Evangeline the Oyster Girl.
65/82
AP
Thad Cochran, a seven-term Republican congressman who represented his home state of Mississippi.
66/82
LSU Health
Dr. Jayaraman "Jay" Rao, neurologist at LSU Health and Ochsner and Director of LSU's Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center.
67/82
NOLA.com
Patricia Kennedy Livingston, a longtime New Orleans newspaper columnist who also was an active civic volunteer and stage performer.
68/82
NOLA.com
Playwright, actor and civil rights activist John O’Neal, who co-founded the seminal Free Southern Theater and later founded Junebug Productions.
69/82
Provided photo
Milton "Whitey" Bush, a noted musician, conductor and music educator. Bush was co-founder of the New Orleans Summer Pops and the former conductor of the New Orleans Concert Band.
70/82
Provided photo
Elsie Brupbacher Martinez, former newspaper reporter who also co-wrote two books, Uptown/Downtown: Growing up in New Orleans and Henriette Delille: Rebellious Saint.
71/82
NOLA.com
Popular New Orleans barber Wilbert "Chill" Wilson Sr., who became an icon in post-Katrina New Orleans.
72/82
NOLA.com
John Pecoul Jr., a New Orleans professor and civic leader who served as the first executive director of the city's Human Relations Committee.
73/82
Advocate
Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal, a blues guitarist remembered as one of Lafayette's most beloved musicians.
74/82
NOLA.com
James Achilles "Jimmy" Nassikas, a noted hotelier who helped to develop the Royal Orleans and Royal Sonesta hotels.
75/82
Provided photo
M.I. Scoggin, a mainstay of New Orleans theater who was acclaimed for the variety of roles she took on, ranging from Edith Piaf and a retired stripper to a Catholic nun.
76/82
NOLA.com/Provided photo
Evelyn Cruse-Blanchard, the first female athletic director for the Jefferson Parish Public School System.
77/82
Provided photo
Dee Smith, a longtime local advertising executive.
78/82
NOLA.com
Bruce McConduit, who served more than two decades as the first African-American elected to a Municipal Court judgeship in Orleans Parish.
79/82
Diocese of Biloxi
Bishop Roger Morin, whose seven years as bishop of Biloxi, Miss. followed 40 years of service in New Orleans.
80/82
NOPD
New Orleans Police Commander Doug Eckert, who served on the force for 22 years, joining as a recruit and rising through the ranks.
81/82
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Dominican Father Neal McDermott, a priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans since 1984, longtime pastor at St. Dominic and former campus minister at Loyola University.
82/82
Christy Bowe/courtesy LSU Health
Dr. Robert Barsley, one of the country’s most talented forensic dentists, who helped countless crime victims, Hurricane Katrina victims and victims of Pan Am Flight 759.
1
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82
×
AP
Malcolm "Mac" Rebennack Jr., better known as Dr. John, the pianist, singer and songwriter known as worldwide ambassador for New Orleans music.
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