Thomas Joseph Buddy Robichaux

Thomas Joseph Buddy Robichaux passed away on June 7, 2009, at the age of 82. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 19, 1926, to Francis and Lucille Robichaux, he is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Jane; sons and their wives, Tom and Jessie of Austin, Rob and Suzanne of Tucson, and Jim and Rebecca of Corpus Christi. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Kandice, Mike, Laia, Lindsay, and Sarah; two great-grandchildren; a sister Frances Bahlinger and a brother Gerry, both of Louisiana.

Buddy always taught his sons that wealth was not measured by the amount of money in their pockets, but by the love of family and friends, and life lived with honor and integrity. He always encouraged them to leave any place they visited a little better than they found it.

His life exemplified these tenets: mentoring young men as a Scoutmaster and Commissioner in Boy Scouts; coaching Little League baseball; instructing First Aid for the Red Cross; teaching newcomers the joys of fly-fishing with the Alamo Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited; building with Habitat for Humanity; ushering at Coker United Methodist Church, and reading for the blind every Thursday morning as a volunteer for Owl Radio.

A graduate of Louisiana State University and the University of Houston, Buddy spent his professional life as a research chemist for Shell Oil Company in Houston before becoming the Director of Health, Safety, and Environmental Affairs for a multi-national petrochemical company, where he demonstrated to environmentalists and industry alike that we could be proper stewards of our natural resources and still prosper commercially.

Buddy's love of fishing began at a young age and continued throughout his life. He fished the wild trout streams from Montana to New Zealand, always taking care to release his prey tired but unharmed, to fight another day.

Buddy's wife, Jane, was the absolute love of his life. Their marriage exemplified unwavering devotion and constant companionship. Whether bicycling through the south of France, camping in the Colorado Rockies, seeing the world, or simply creating gourmet dinners together over a nice red wine in the kitchen, they shared a love story and life together to be envied by all.

Buddy leaves after a long, full life, with everywhere he went and everyone he encountered a little better than he found them.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you provide a donation in Buddy's memory to Owl Radio, c/o Low Vision Resource Center 501c3, 11510 Sandman St., San Antonio, Texas 78216 or to the charity of your choice.