Beauregard L Bassich

Beauregard Louis Bassich, age 89, passed away on August 21, 2015 after an illness. A life-long resident of New Orleans, he was a dedicated promoter of the unique history of our city, a preservationist and a “do it yourselfer”. Since 1988, he had been the volunteer Executive Director of the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association where he was instrumental in many of the park’s major initiatives: the restoration of Popp Fountain, the Japanese Garden, the Pavilion of the Two Sisters and his greatest passion, the restoration of the City Park Carousel. Beau directed the original restoration of the historic Carousel in 1988 and after Katrina flooded the park in August of 2005, he stepped in to spearhead its restoration once again. For this work, he received recognition from the National Register of Historic Places, the Department of the Interior and the National Preservation Honor award. He was honored to be selected Rex, King of Carnival in 1989. He was a member of several other carnival organizations. Up until a few months before his death, Beau was still active at City Park and served on the Board of Directors of Avery Island, Inc. He recently served on the Advisory Board of the Shadows-on-the-Teche in New Iberia. Over the years he also served on the boards of Gallier House, the Louisiana State Museum, the Advisory Board of Felicity Redevelopment, Inc. , The Friends of the Cabildo, the International House, the 1984 Louisiana World’s Exposition, the Jazz and Heritage Festival, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Beau was also chairman of the Louisiana State Museum’s Old Mint Restoration Committee and the Holy Name of Jesus drive for restoration of the St. Louis Cathedral. For many years he also co-chaired the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Coordinating Committee. He was president of the International Association of Blue Print and Allied Industries in 1956-57. At 30 years of age, he was the youngest ever to serve at this position. Beau was honored over the years by the St. Elizabeth’s Guild, the Young Leadership Council, Family Service of Greater New Orleans, the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, the Freedoms Foundation, Louisiana Recreation and Park Association and City Park. Beau served in the Marines in WWII from 1943-5 and was stationed on Guam in the Pacific. He was proud of his military service and believed once a Marine, always a Marine. He attended Jesuit High School and Isidore Newman School and attended Tulane University when he returned from WWII. The family would like to thank the many wonderful caregivers who cared for him during his final illness. In particular: Rosalie Landix, Angelina Demesme, Raymond Gonzales and Cerise Leonard. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the City Park Carousel Fund through the Friends of City Park, Palm Drive New Orleans, LA 70124 or to Holy Name of Jesus Church. Beau was preceded in death by his parents, Bernadette Riehl Bassich and Raymond Peter Bassich, Sr., sister, Mary Alice Gelpi, brother Raymond Peter Bassich, Jr. DDS and son, James Beauregard Bassich. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Avery McLoughlin Bassich, a daughter, Avery Bassich Corenswet (husband Jay), and a daughter-in-law Cynthia Taggart Bassich. A Requiem Mass will be held Monday, August 24, 2015 at 11:00am at Holy Name of Jesus Church. Visitation will be held from 9:00am until 11:00. Interment will be private.