Louis T. Robichaux

Louis T. Robichaux Louis T. Robichaux, a native of Franklin, La., and longtime resident of Jennings, died Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette. Since 1951, Robichaux lived in Jennings where he was a public school teacher for 33 years. He was 87. Shortly after marrying, Robichaux obtained an education in photography in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he began a career as a professional photographer. Upon returning to live in Lafayette, La., he earned a bachelors degree from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana). He began teaching in the Jefferson Davis Parish school system in Jennings and raising a family with his wife Gert. A few years later, Robichaux added a masters degree from Louisiana State University (LSU) at Baton Rouge, and a Plus 30 degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles. Both he and his daughter were students during the same time at McNeese in the 1970s. He loved history, especially as a social studies instructor, family genealogy, and the American political process. Along with relatives and friends, Robichaux celebrated his Acadian ancestry and heritage in Canada and in Louisiana every five years with the Congres Mondial Acadienes. An avid sports fan who was a track and field coach for thirteen years in Jennings, Robichaux enjoyed cheering on our U.S. athletes in Beijing this past August. With the gift of conversation, he equally enjoyed watching and discussing the historical political drama unfolding in this election year. Having pride for each of the education institutions he attended, for Prof, as he was known, nothing compared with his fervor for the LSU Fighting Tigers, relishing their two recent national football championships. Mr. Robichaux was a creative artist, thinker, lifelong gardener, and mentor to many young people in his community. He relished learning, seeing young minds absorb knowledge, and encouraged both structured education and self-learning for all ages. A disciplinarian in his classroom, he ensured that his students knew they had a job to learn and his job was to enable them to do so while he was in their charge. Mr. Robichaux served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. His tour-of-duty placed him in the South Pacific theatre on a freight ship vessel conducting supply and reinforcement operations to a variety of other U.S. armed forces. Mr. Robichaux and his wife celebrated 62 years of marriage just last month. They are members of the Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church community. Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Wickless A. Robichaux, and Mary Bourg Robichaux; and a son, Damon Lyle Robichaux. Survivors include his widow, Gertrude Trahan Robichaux (Jennings), son Theo Robichaux (Scott, La.), daughter Karin R. Bailey (Lake Charles, La.), son Chris Robichaux (Falls Church, Va.), son Chet Robichaux (Broussard, La.), 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Memorial arrangements are being directed by Miguez Funeral Home, 114 East Shankland Avenue, Jennings, La. 70546. Visiting at the Miguez chapel is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2008, at 4 p.m. for family, 4:30 for friends, a holy rosary prayer services for 6 p.m., and visitation ends at 9 p.m. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, 710 North State Street, Jennings, La. 70546. Burial at Jennings Calvary Cemetery will follow the mass.