Nell Nolan: La Salle class reunion of 76; Meeting of the Franco-American Chamber of Commerce | Holidays / Society

Catch up!

reunion festivities

The whirlwind was their oyster when the former De La Salle High School students celebrated their 45th reunion, heading to the Felix oyster restaurant and bar. With the restaurant “The Pearl” as a meeting place, the ancients savored the outdoor setting near the marina, the sunset and a weather bordering on “freshness”. Yes, said one participant. It was “amazing … fresh and crispy”. Of course, what was appreciated most was the camaraderie and the verbal trips into the past.

To remember the school days of old – 45 years old, many classmates brought yearbooks, jackets, teacher programs, talent show programs (circa 1973) and freshman caps. “We wore them during initiation,†said Marc Brown. To promote the spirit of conviviality, personalized koozies have been created for the meeting, taking into account “the 1976 class as a GOAT classâ€. (It’s – um! – the greatest of all time.)

Among the many seafood dishes – oysters, fried catfish and shrimp in various preparations – and enjoying “adult drinks” were Glenn Adams, Steve Arceneaux, Cliff Butler, and president of DLS Paul Kelly, who spoke and updated the class on the many successes the school has had in recent years.

Recently the school principal Perry rogers sent news that two seniors have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Sam Becker, son of Susan and Cary Becker, and Eamon Kelly, son of Rebecca and André (DLS ’84) Kelly.

De La Salle, a private Catholic high school, opened in New Orleans in 1949 with a freshman class of 74 boys. Two years later, it moved to its current location on Saint-Charles Avenue. The school is named after Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and is affiliated with the Lasallian mission. While it was initially a boys’ school, DLS became coeducational in 1992. Dawn Angelique Richard, the singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and model is a renowned alumnus.

After Hurricane Katrina, De La Salle was the first high school to open in Crescent City. It “opened its doors to high school students from all over the city and the surrounding area.”

Reunion rally, which came after another hurricane Ida rallied Clay Hamilton, Joe Delery, Tom Donnelly, Sean Dowd, Edwin Ellinghausen, Spencer Gagnet, Terry Hall, Henry Heaton, Jordy Hultberg, Billy Kohlmann, Kevin Kytle, Bill Lovejoy, Al Mancuso, MH Phillips, Drew Regan, Steve Reisig, Bill Seward and Ham Clay, who said many friendships lasted for more than five decades and was delighted that some of the classmates “traveled long distances to attend.” He continued, “It’s always a joy to see everyone (at an event) where the memories are shared with loud laughs, drinks and cigars.”

Still other horsemen making the scene were Gene Pereira, George Young, David Shall, Gerard Sonnier, Dexter Stephens, Michael Vizard, and Michel Semmes. Him and his wife, Yvette Semmes, became grandparents for the first time, thanks to the birth of Ida Stubblefield in Nashville, whose parents are Mathilde and Dr Bo Stubblefield. Summing up the reunion, Michael “Mike” Semmes said: “It is always so good to see old friends from yesteryear again. The enthusiasm present made the gathering really enjoyable! I am looking forward to our 50th!

The above Mark Brown reiterated this feeling of “the spirit of ’76”. “Our 45th meeting was a blast, our time together is passing too quickly. We are already planning the 50th!

Reflection

Like so many organizations right now, the Franco-American Chamber of Commerce-Gulf Coast Chapter (Louisiana, Mississippi, Southern Alabama) brought together board members for a powwow on future activities. Its role is to “take advantage of the networks which will nourish relations between French and American professionals”. Events and promotions follow.

The first French chamber of commerce abroad was established in Crescent City in 1876. In 2011, the above FACC-GC grew. Past Presidents included well-known business leaders Waldemar Nelson (deceased), the late Paul Nalty, Michèle Braden, the late Lucien Boulad, Damien Regnard and the late Donald Hoffman. Since 2012, New Orleans lawyer Eric Belin was president. Beatrice Germaine is the executive director.

The Santa Fe Restaurant on Esplanade Avenue was the meeting and hospitality site which included the owner Carlos Lourenço, New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint Director Greg Lambousy, General Director of Economic Development of Saint-Bernard Parish Meaghan McCormack, The Chairman of the Soleau Group Luc Soleau, Founder of Maison Degas David Villarrubia, and CEO of the World Trade Center Ed Webb.

Around and about

In 2011, the closed and desecrated Holy Trinity Church was purchased by Dave hurlbert and Scott King, newcomers to the city of San Francisco, who converted it into a performing arts hall and renamed it Marigny Opera House. (Solange Knowles, sister of Beyonce, exchanged vows with Alain ferguson in 2014. The couple have since separated.)

Another house associated with Hurlbert and King was at the center of the festivities when Dave threw a birthday party for his partner Scott’s 66th birthday. The event took place during the summer in their flagship house and gardens on rue Chartres in Marigny, which was designed and built in 1838 “by Nelson Fouché, a free black mathematician-architect-builder”. In the June 1990 issue of Southern Accents, the house, then owned by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kavanaugh, appeared on the cover of the magazine and in many subsequent pages with photographs of Tina Freeman and text from Susannah M. Wilson. The late architect Frank W. Masson carried out the architectural renovation and Decorations-Lucullus, the interior decoration.

Dave (executive director of the Department of Health) and Scott signed a purchase agreement for the home on May 29, 2020, with Wendy Rodrigue, the widow of the famous painter George Rodrigue.

“The purpose of the recent party was to celebrate my 66th birthday,” said Scott King, a Chicago native, Harvard graduate, “and our anniversary to buy our new home.” Palette New Orleans did the restoration, garnering high praise.

Among the participants linked to the Op̩ra de Marigny Рincluded Dwight McGhee, Terry and Lynette DuFrene, Julian and Nora Mutter, Rex Leatherbury, Dr Will and Christine Robicheaux, Thad and Dr Michelle Puzdrakiewicz, Pat Galloway and Peter Webb, Steve Armbruster, Lauren Guynes, Aaron Wiggins, Elle C. Jones, Gretchen Erickson , and Sara Radka. Milling was also Bryan Batt, Margarita Bergen, Dean Shapiro, Joycelyn Reynolds, Matthew LaRose, Lawrence and Ming Sieberth, Dianne Mack, Bremmer Duthie, Michael McKelvey, Allen Johnson, Rick Fifield, and Matthieu LaRose.

Laureate Scott said after the festive fact: “I had a great time talking to old friends… and meeting quite a few new people.”