Richard "Rick" James Sofranec

Rick passed away on April 10th due to complications from a long illness. He was 67. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Rick graduated from Liberty High School in 1976. Lifelong career in plastic manufacturing with stops in Ohio, Texas, and in New Orleans with Intralox. Rick worked for Intralox on the manufacturing floor in positions of increasing authority for more than 30 years. Over the years he helped develop dozens of patents, with several in his own name.

Rick thrived in the New Orleans area with his four sons, who he raised in Metairie. The family enjoyed the Louisiana lifestyle--everything from crawfish boils to neighborhood Mardi Gras parades. He had a lifelong love of music and learned to play both the piano and guitar by ear. His gift for witty lyrics resulted in a few of his own songs, which he performed sparingly in local venues over the years. He leaves behind several vintage guitars, as well as Beatles & Pink Floyd memorabilia and other rock-n-roll artifacts he collected over his lifetime.

After he lost his second son, Chaz, to a brain tumor in 2014, Rick struggled with his health. He underwent a liver transplant in 2019 and battled with health conditions in the following years.

Rick is survived by his three sons, J.D. (Lori); Nick and Patrick (Emily), along with his children’s mother Patty, and his six grandchildren: John, Emily, Betty, Cameron, Cole and Josie. He is the first of his seven siblings to pass away, leaving behind his sisters Lori, Janet, Mary Beth, Peggy and Elaine, and his brother Tom, along with his beloved brothers-in-law. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Richard and Margaret Catherine Sofranec, who are leaving the light on for him.

Richard will be remembered with a Celebration of Life on Friday, April 25th at 2:00PM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home (5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA) with a visitation starting at 12:00PM until service time. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery.