William Andrew Meyer Sr.

Except for a stint in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Meyer spent his entire career working at the shop known as “the Largest Hat Store in the South.” After working at that establishment for more than six decades, illness precipitated his retirement from the company following Hurricane Katrina.

Generations of all strata of New Orleans society depended on William Meyer’s expertise in men’s headgear for their Fedoras, Homburgs, Panama and Cowboy hats. Luminaries in his clientele came from the world of sports, such as Muhammad Ali, Michael Spinks, Joe Namath and members of most major NFL and NBA teams; New Orleans music legends including Fats Domino, Aaron Neville; as well as giants of American arts and letters, such as Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote. His customers from Hollywood ranged from Edgar Bergen (and Charlie McCarthy) to Mr. T and Regis Philbin.

Meyer was preceded in death by his parents Andrew P. Meyer and Wilhelmina M. Meyer. He is survived by his brother Samuel Meyer of New Orleans, children William Andrew Meyer, Jr. and Anne Meyer (Nancy) Hardenstein of Pass Christian, MS, and Robert Moore Meyer of Santa Monica, CA. He is also survived by his two grandchildren, Taylor Stanton Hardenstein and Kaylee Qiu Anne Hardenstein of Pass Christian, MS.

An avid tennis player, he was a longtime member of the Bissonette-Manned Downs Country Club. He belonged to the social organizations Caliphs of Cairo, The Pendennis Club and The Bienville Club of New Orleans, LA. He was a longstanding member of the congregation of St. Augustine Episcopal Church in Metairie, LA.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Woldenberg Village for their care and support.

Services were held on Monday, December 31, 2012, at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA. Interment in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Donations in William Meyer’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave. 7th Fl. NY, NY 10001. www.alz.org/donate.