Armand LeGardeur

Lifelong New Orleanian and civic booster Armand “Ace” LeGardeur passed away on December 24th, 2022. He was 93. Widely known for his work as chairman of the board of Children’s Hospital and his role as longtime President and CEO of Carl E. Woodard Inc. Construction Co., Ace will be missed for his effusive personality, his steady patience and the genuine warmth and respect he showed to co-workers, clients, and friends.

Ace was born in uptown New Orleans but spent as much time as possible out of doors at his grandparents' Bayou Liberty home. A member of one of Metairie Park Country Day’s earliest graduating classes, he attended Yale University and received his BS in Engineering in 1951, then joined the Army Officer Candidate School and graduated as a Second Lieutenant. He served with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Korea from 1951-1954. Returning home, Ace teamed up with architect-builder Carl Ellsworth Woodward to expand the Carl E Woodward Inc. Construction Company, predecessor to present-day Woodward Design + Build LLC.

Ace only recently retired from the company, where he was viewed as a mentor and friend by coworkers, after almost 70 years. For most of his career, employees tried in vain to arrive at the office before he did. His car could reliably be found parked in the company lot by 5:55 a.m. every day, and his children learned that if they were out carousing after 5:15 in the morning they’d need to stay out just a bit longer or explain themselves to Dad, who’d be up eating breakfast but would be out the door by 5:45.

Ace had three passions: family, work, and community engagement – and he was great at balancing them. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he was also seriously bullish on his hometown of New Orleans, which he loved as it was and pushed relentlessly to make stronger and better. As chairman of The Chamber of Commerce, he urged a regional approach to economic development that resulted in the five-parish The Chamber – New Orleans and the River Region. He was enthusiastic about the riverfront development of the Warehouse District that resulted from the 1984 World’s Fair. He expressed his love of New Orleans by being ambitious for New Orleans, always pushing for the city and region he loved to embrace creative, forward-looking ideas that would allow the city to grow sensibly.

For most of their growing-up years, Ace’s family knew not to count on seeing him on Thursday nights, when the Board of Directors of Children’s Hospital met. During thirty years as a board member and then as chairman of the board, it was rare for Ace to miss a Children’s meeting. In 1982, the Times Picayune recognized his community service to Children’s, the United Way, the Chamber and other civic efforts by honoring him as that year’s recipient of the Times Picayune Loving Cup.

Ace loved carnival, parties, time with friends and the outdoors. He was a regular fixture on area tennis courts into his seventies. More recently, neighbors could rely on seeing Ace and his golden retriever, Molly, taking long walks in the neighborhood. He was an enthusiastic gardener, bikerider, hiker, canoer, duck hunter, woodworker and snowskier. One of his favorite activities was dancing with his wife of 53 years, Wendy Ballin Coleman LeGardeur, at a Carnival ball or a gathering of friends.

Armand LeGardeur was born on February 28th, 1929, the younger of two sons of George Vergnes LeGardeur and Claire Bredow Parkhouse LeGardeur. He is predeceased by his brother George V LeGardeur in addition to his parents. He was truly beloved of the five children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild who survive him: Armand LeGardeur (wife Rosalie Genevro) and their twin daughters Lea and Bebe; Leslie LeGardeur Dudley (husband Mark Dudley), their sons Clay, Parker and Hudson and their granddaughter Ryleigh; Lili LeGardeur (husband Miles Trapolin); Wendell LeGardeur (wife Katie Dodson LeGardeur), their daughters Estelle and Giselle and their son Armand; and Stella Mimi LeGardeur-Eastham (husband Michael Eastham), their son Alexander and their daughter Mimi. He is also deeply mourned by loving nephews and nieces as well as by his constant canine companion, Molly.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Ace’s many caregivers.

Ace had a joie de vivre that will endure in the hearts of all who knew him. His optimism and humor were contagious. “If ever I cease to love '' is a fitting song to his memory.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 30, 2022 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans LA. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the charity of your choice.