Robert "Bob" Harold Carnesi

Robert “Bob” Harold Carnesi, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, at the age of 88. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 2, 1937, to the late William Carnesi and Thelma Saucier Carnesi. He was a graduate of Francis T. Nicholls High School and married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia Ory Carnesi. He was the proud father of his son, Robert Harold Carnesi, Jr. (the late Jan), and daughter, Robyn Carnesi Oubre (Kerry, Jr.). He was the devoted grandfather of Trey Carnesi (Noel), Austin Carnesi (Addison), Julia Oubre and Jolie Oubre, and great-grandfather of Juliana and Lillian.

Bob was the Vice President of Sales for Chiquita Brands, and later DelMonte Produce Company. He knew everything and anything related to bananas and earned his nickname “The Banana Man”. Bob was a proud Italian and was a member of the Italian Cultural Society in his younger years. He was honored to receive a Special Achievement Award from the Italian Cultural Society in 1990 and reigned as the Italian Grand Marshal of the Irish Italian Parade in Metairie in 1991.

Bob enjoyed his time away from work, spending time with his family and golfing, but the thing he was most passionate about was Mardi Gras. His love of Mardi Gras started as a young man attending Mardi Gras balls where his future wife, Sylvia, was dancing. Bob, along with a group of friends, decided to form the Krewe of Caesar in Metairie in 1978. Bob was the Captain of Caesar for the entirety of the forty years the krewe paraded. Caesar quickly grew to be one of the largest and most innovative krewes in Jefferson Parish, known for their beautiful costumes and family-friendly parade. Bob had a unique relationship with Disney and was very proud to be the only parade in Mardi Gras history to fly in Mickey and friends straight from Walt Disney World to serve as grand marshals of the Caesar parade. Through this relationship, he brought Mardi Gras magic to Walt Disney World for ten years. The court paraded in Pleasure Island, which is now Disney Springs, and rode in their costume shoulder pieces on the floats with the characters in the Main Street parade in the Magic Kingdom.

Bob truly enjoyed bringing joy to others and had a larger-than-life personality. He was a true entertainer through his Mardi Gras escapades, his storytelling, and his sense of humor. He was a loyal friend, a hard-working businessman, a devoted Captain, and a beloved family man. He will truly be missed.

A funeral mass will be held at Saint Catherine of Siena Church at 12:30 on Thursday, April 30. Visitation will be held from 10:30 until 12:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sunshine Kids, https://www.sunshinekids.org/donate.html , would be greatly appreciated in Bob’s honor.