Blake G. Arata

died peacefully at his home in Metairie, Louisiana on January 23, 2017, surrounded by his loving and devoted family. Blake’s 85 years were filled with joy, achievement, adventure and travel, and nothing was more rewarding than the 62 years of loving matrimony to his beautiful and caring wife, JoAnn Graffagnino Arata and the strong family they created. Guided by his love of God and his deep Catholic faith, Blake Arata dedicated his life to the service of others. He served his nation with distinction as an Officer in the United States Navy, retiring as a Lt. Commander of the Naval Reserves. He served the city he loved as New Orleans’ City Attorney from 1970-1975, as Chairman of the Orleans Indigent Defender Project, and the Vice Chairman of the New Orleans Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. And, he had a distinguished legal career for over 50 years as a founder and long-time managing partner of the law firm Gordon, Arata, McCollam, Duplantis & Eagan. While he was known for his mastery of Oil and Gas, including complex transactions, financing and litigation, his legal career included victories for the City of New Orleans’ Home-Rule Charter before the U.S. Supreme Court and approval of the financing mechanism for the construction of the Louisiana Superdome before the Louisiana Supreme Court. Blake Arata had an insatiable appetite for learning and excelled in academics. He finished first in his class at every level of his education – graduating first in his class at Jesuit High School, Loyola University and Loyola Law School. In addition to his academic achievements in college, Blake Arata propelled Loyola University to consecutive Gulf States Conference Championships in Track and Field in 1951 and 1952. He was elected President of the Loyola “L” Club in 1960 and inducted into the Loyola University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He was a member of the New Orleans Athletic Club, the School of Design, Southern Yacht Club, a founding member of the Louisiana Bar Foundation and a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Blake was also an author. At the encouragement of his family, upon the celebration of this 80th birthday, he wrote his autobiography, Before I Forget, which provides all of us with a lasting memory of his fine mind, wit and many adventures.

For all of the many accolades and commendations earned in his rich life, his greatest achievement was his adoring family. He is survived by his dear wife, JoAnn Arata and six of their children and their spouses: Cynthia and Tom Nicholson, Blake Arata, Jr., Beth and Jimmy Wilson, Patrick and Nicole Arata, Michael and Emily Arata, and JoAnn and Kenneth Evans, his sixteen grandchildren and their spouses: Courtney and Jeremy Wartko, Colin Nicholson, Brittany and Vincent Campo, Brooke Arata, Bryce Arata, Patrick Ferguson, Peyton Arata, Hartleigh Arata, Raegan Arata, McKenzie Arata, Brendan Arata, Geoffrey Evans, Emily Evans, Reid Evans, Gabriel Arata and Michael Arata, his great-grand daughter, his cousins, countless nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends, including his life-long friends Moon and Verna Landrieu. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and George Arata, his sole sibling Don Arata and his beautiful son Bradley Michael Arata.

We wish you fair winds and following seas on your journey, dad. We will see you at the next port.

Please join us to celebrate Blake’s life on Monday, January 30, 2017 at St. Pius X Church, 6600 Spanish Fort, New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation 10:00AM – 1:00PM with services commencing thereafter.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to instead make contributions on Blake’s behalf to the American Liver Foundation (www.liverfoundation.org).