Anthony Joseph Gendusa Jr.

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Anthony Joseph Gendusa, Jr., a cherished member of New Orleans and Poplarville, MS communities, beloved family man, and respected Architect, who departed this life at the age of 91 on February 18, 2024, in Poplarville, Mississippi.

Born in New Orleans on the 9th of April,1932, Anthony’s early life as a boy was rooted in Algiers. He attended Behrman High School and played football at Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA. As a young boy Anthony was fascinated with flying and created balsa wood & tissue paper planes and kites.

He joined the United States Air Force and served during Korean War times. He was assigned to Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska where he became a Link Trainer instructor teaching pilots about instrumentation and flying at the arctic circle, which he absolutely loved.

After being honorably discharged Anthony attended Louisiana State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture in. He said, “God was the greatest of all Architects” and drew many pieces of art from his spiritual dreams. Anthony returned to New Orleans to lay down the foundations of a career and start Anthony J. Gendusa, Architect AIA, Inc. With fifty-five plus years in the field his work was expansive and diverse, with projects that included elementary schools to Sea-Saint Recording Studio, Brake tag and Fire Stations, the Airport, Performing Arts Centers, Federal Court building, Stadiums and residences. Along with his son Stony & daughter Anne the trio composed a design team that would help restore, rebuild and expand new projects for Orleans and Jefferson Parish after Hurricane Katrina. Anthony’s work leaves a lasting imprint on the city’s landscape and surrounding areas.

Anthony, a member of the American Institute of Architects, served on the City of New Orleans Planning Commission, The City of New Orleans Housing Authority. As an Architect for West Jefferson Hospital he was very proud of the design for the massively thick structure which it took to house the Cyberknife. He received multiple awards for projects, including being featured in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. His personal homes often featured signature plexiglass floors with tall windows spanning two stories, often with views among the oak trees.

Anthony was loved by many, and he felt the same in return. Numerous individuals speak of him as their mentor and someone who made a positive impact on their life and career. A common word used when describing Anthony was “honest.” He truly was the hardest working, kindest, most unique, humble, generous individual who was always supportive and positive. He rallied success and ambition in others.

Beyond his professional achievements, Anthony was a man of diverse interests; It would not be unusual for him to be at kickboxing one night and opera the next. He took pleasure in running, weightlifting and skiing in Vail, Colorado. Powerful music was a part of his life and home. The sounds of Simon & Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, Enya & Yanni to the Godfather and Luciano Pavarotti could be heard when visiting. He appreciated greatly designer clothes with Gianne Versace and Prada being favorites. He served as a float Lieutenant in Bacchus and was an avid enthusiast of sports cars. At one point, having a dragster driven by his son kept in the driveway at his home in uptown New Orleans. He liked looking at the moon, drawing his signature trees, a good cup of “joe” with chicory, a steak from Ruth Chris, and a big pot of red beans and sausage.

Left to honor and remember Anthony are his beloved Lisette Copping, his loving daughter, Anne O’Neill Gendusa Smith (Michael T. Brown), his sister, Gertrude May Gendusa his grandsons, River Smith, Seth Smith, and his daughter-in-law, Shelley High Gendusa (Stony). He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony J. Gendusa, Sr., and Gertrude Beck Gendusa, and his beloved son, Anthony Joseph "Stony" Gendusa III, his sisters Mary Barbara Yokum of Amarillo, Tx, Mary Louise Morrison of Akron, Ohio and brother Salvador Gendusa II. Anthony is survived by other special family and dear friends, including Brittney Smith Brown, his nieces and nephews in Texas and New Orleans, as well as their children, their spouses and in-laws. His presence and daily texts are already greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home (5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., NOLA, 70124) on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends and have visitation from 11:00 am until services, Tuesday at the funeral home. A burial will take place at Lake Lawn in the near future. A celebration to honor Anthony’s life will be held this spring in Mississippi. In lieu of customary remembrances, memorials may be directed to the Anthony J. Gendusa, Jr. Scholarship at Pearl River Community College Foundation.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com