Steven L Hesse

Steven Lester Hesse was born on April 17, 1969 in the Navy Hospital, Oakland CA and departed life at the LSU Medical Center, New Orleans, LA on June 7, 2011 at the age of 42. He was the beloved son of Captain F. L. Hesse and the late Betty (Val) Hesse and the brother of Valerie Hesse. Steve is survived by aunts Ruby Dunlap of Tacoma, WA, Helen Knoll of Stuttgart, AR., Marion Worchester of Destrehan, LA and uncles Roger Worchester of Destrehan, LA and John Valaske of Kenosha, WI along with many cousins. He is also survived by his companion Gay Carroll and his tribe in Bywater including Scott Salin, Robert Starnes, Troy Koehler, Sue Bennett, Barnaby Chancellor and many more.

Steve grew up in a Navy family and traveled extensively as a child. He enjoyed all of the West Coast including the Bay Area, Alcatraz, Berkley, Monterey, Muir Woods and the wine country. Living in Japan, he traveled from Tokyo to Hiroshima on bullet trains and subways, learned to snow ski on Mt. Fuji, went to Sumo and the Ginza all while enjoying the culture, food and friendship of Japan. On returning to the U.S. with his family they visited Seattle, the Space Needle, Mt. Rainer, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rushmore on their way to New Orleans.

As an adult, he made New Orleans his home. He graduated from Delgado Culinary arts and was a chef in many restaurants including Bella Luna, Cafe’ Giovanni, Lucky Cheng’s, Charley G’s, La Madeline, Mr. Gyro’s and Whole Foods. Many remember him as the “main stay” at Molly’s at the Market. He enjoyed rock climbing and cycling in Arizona and Washington and was a mem- ber of a wedding party at the base of Diamond Head. He learned that the way to live a full life was not to accumulate things, but to positively impact people’s lives. He will be remembered through the stories told about him, the art he inspired, the buildings he helped build, the people he saved and the community he created. Steve will be missed by all who had the good fortune to have known him.

“Steve was variously a chef, a bartender, a hacker, a trickster, a mentor, an explorer, a mad scientist, a mathematician, a mastermind, a boozer, a line crosser, a rule breaker, a lover and a fighter, a trouble-maker and an order restorer, and at times a giant kid and a grouchy old man. He did great things and terrible things, occasionally concurrently”-Robert Starnes.

His family thanks the staff of LSU Medical Center ICU for their exceptional care and to his many friends who were there when God took him to be with his mother. Memorial services will be at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 6336 Berkley Drive, Algiers, LA on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM to be followed by a second line on April 17, 2012 on his birthday. Please share your thoughts and prayers online at www.westsideleitzeagan.com

Arrangements under the direction of Westside/Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, Marrero, LA.