Gerald ’Spot’ Fontenot is now making holes-in-one and shooting his age for eternity after a battle with metastatic lung cancer, arriving at the heavenly first tee on Feb. 6, 2022 at the age of 73. His nickname, Spot, was given to him by a golf buddy because he ‘played like a dog’.
Gerald was born on Oct. 27, 1948 in Eunice, LA, to Clara and Hampton Fontenot. He attended St. Edmund Catholic School in Eunice and was a DJ for the local radio station under the name ‘Jerry Jive Alive at Five’. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Hector during the Vietnam War. Following his service to our country, Gerald attended LSU and subsequently moved to Ruston, LA to sell radio advertising and announce high school football games. It was there that he met Teri, and their first date was to an “Urban Cowboy” dance. They married less than a year later, and lived in Monroe, LA, Ft. Myers, FL, and Opelousas, LA before settling down in Baton Rouge.
Gerald was a charismatic salesman who never met a stranger and had a special sense of humor. He sold banking and specialty items, Yellow Pages ads, and medical equipment, receiving many awards for his accomplishments during his professional career. Gerald opened a Mail Boxes, Etc. store in order to be home in the evenings with his family. He sold the store after ten years to “work” on the hobby he loved most—golf.
Spot could be found on the golf courses at the Country Club of Louisiana or in Orange Beach, AL nearly every day. He had a true passion for golf; he won the 2019 CCLA Stroke Play Senior Championship, made two holes-in-one and shot his age. His other interests included LSU athletic events and participation in Mardi Gras festivities as a member of the Krewe of Endymion. He embraced his Cajun roots and shared his love of the traditions with friends and strangers alike.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Teri, to whom he was married for forty years; his daughter, Rachel Carroccio and her husband, Paul; and his stepdaughter, Stephanie Ward and her husband, Shane. He was a Pappy to Lexie and Kealey Ward, and Grayson and Cullen Carroccio. He is also survived by a sister, Geneva Reed; in-laws Shai and Billy James and Gary Grayson; special cousins Callie Polozola, Sharon Jenkins, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Gerald is predeceased by his parents, his brother, J.D. Fontenot, and his sister, Denise Guidry.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 11 from 12:30-2:30 pm at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church; Funeral Mass will follow at 2:30 pm, celebrated by Fr. Cleo Milano.
Honorary Pallbearers are Buddy Barrett; Leo Blaize, MD; Charlie Bolotte, MD; Jamie Broussard, MD; Paul Frederickson; Brian Kinchen; Ronnie LaBorde; Charles Moore; and Kip Smith, MD.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be directed to Hospice Promise Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists families and terminally ill patients with final requests (lhcgroup.com/foundation) or PGA Hope, a nonprofit that introduces golf to veterans with disabilities (pgareach.org). The family would like to thank Natalie Ruiz and Nikia Williams who cared for Gerald and his family as he completed his journey.
“Tee it high and let it fly.”
