Ingersoll Jordan

At the age of eighty-two Ingersoll Jordan died of congestive heart failure on Sunday, July 9th. A memorial service in his honor will be held at Christ Church Cathedral at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, July 14th, with visitation to begin at 9:00.

Ingersoll was the third of five children of the late Thomas Leslie “Duke” Jordan of Jordan Springs, Virginia, and Cornelia Ingersoll Jordan of Great Hill Farm of Bedford, New York. He was predeceased by siblings Thomas Leslie Jr., Cornelia "Dolly" Howard Ingersoll, and Gay Jordan. Ingersoll grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was a graduate of St. Martin's Episcopal School, where he was president of his class three of his four high school years. Ingersoll later graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

A patriot, Ingersoll worked for Majority Leader Hale Boggs in Washington D.C. during the course of which he attended the infamous 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Ingersoll served the country he loved in the U.S. Coast Guard where he ranked first in the naval meteorology class, the training and experience from which informed his decisions and skills as president of the family barge and oil patch businesses.

Thomas Jordan Inc. was the parent company founded by Ingersoll’s father which held some eleven subsidiaries, three of which Ingersoll started. Among his notable accomplishments, Ingersoll managed Gilreath Hydraulics, Inc., their centrifuge company in Houston, Texas; refurbished maritime repair work along the Harvey Canal with the introduction of Harvey Barge Repair, Inc.; greatly expanded the barge repair, fleeting, and towing business of the River Parishes along the Mississippi with the incorporation and promotion of Reserve Barge Service, Inc. and Reserve Towing, Inc., and during the 1980’s acquired the first mid-river fleeting permit which ultimately led to the largest port in the country, the Port of South Louisiana.

In his younger years, Ingersoll was a tennis star at the Houston Bayou Club, a decent football player, and a brilliant snow and water skier. He was a handsome man and a great dancer. A lifelong friend said that where ever she travelled, including abroad, people would ask if she knew Ingersoll Jordan when they found out she was from New Orleans. Even Jimmy Buffett would bring friends to see Ingersoll perform his memorable “Kitchen Disco” with the counters and cabinets of Third Street’s kitchen.

In the latter half of his life Ingersoll was a fervent believer in the lordship of Jesus Christ. He was well known to enthusiastically share the gospel or to pray aloud with a lifelong friend, foe, or stranger in a grocery line.

A few weeks ago Ingersoll had the honor and privilege of walking his daughter Whitney down the aisle at an intimate wedding in the chapel of Trinity Episcopal Church. This was done with the hopeful intention of having their father/daughter dance at the traditional wedding weekend planned for this fall. Whitney, her husband George Sartin, and their families are grateful that Ingersoll was able to give her away in marriage. They will always cherish the memories made that day.

Ingersoll is survived by his two loving daughters, Townsend Derby Jordan Claverie (Maumus Francois Claverie III) and Whitney Crowninshield Jordan Sartin (George Michael Sartin); his former wife Virginia Townsend Derby with whom he remained close; his younger sister Priscilla Jordan; his grandchildren, Maumus Francois Claverie IV, Banner Ingersoll Claverie, Derby Jordan Claverie, Dorothea Collings Claverie, and Elias Hasket Claverie; several nieces and nephews; and his close friend and confidant, Maryann Hoskins.

He will be sorely missed.