Frank Joseph Golemi died on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at the age of 96. He was born in New Orleans on November 11, 1921 to the late Joseph Frank and Mary Torres Golemi. Frank was the beloved husband for 68 years of the late Jeromine Lehrmann Golemi; loving and devoted father of Mary Catherine "Kate" Golemi, Elena Marie Golemi, and the late Frank Edmond Golemi (Margaret); grandfather of Christian (Jennifer), Jared (Emmie), and Justin Golemi, Katie Oulliber (Peter), Jamie Albe (John), Laney Simmons Blakemore (Sidney), and Lindzie Simmons; great grandfather of Grant and Connor Golemi, Emilia and Evie Golemi, Jace and Ava Oulliber, Kaden, Cade, and Kenly Albe, and Belle Blakemore; and brother of the late Mary Torres Knesel.
Frank graduated from Samuel J. Peters High School in 1939. Following World War II, he went on to attend Loyola University and graduated in 1950. He was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force and served during World War II as a pilot of the C-47 in the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group as a 1st Lieutenant. After his service in the War, Frank briefly became a commercial airline pilot with American Airlines. His professional career began in 1948 when hired by Joseph Merrick Jones, Sr. as an accountant. In 1963, he went on to managing the Jones family accounts and those of Gulfside, Inc., where he served as treasurer. As an accountant, he was asked to review the books of Canal Barge Company, and thus began his 70 year career. Frank's motto was "If you love what you do, it's not work".
Frank served on the Board of Directors for Cross Gates, LLC, Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, LLC, Gulfside, Inc., and Canal Barge Company. In April 2014, CBC gave Frank the honor of having a tugboat named after him (MV. Frank Golemi).
He was past president of Archbishop Rummel High School Parent Booster Club. A member of the Jefferson Parish Planning and Zoning Board, and the Italian American Bocce Club of Greater New Orleans.
Frank was a devout Catholic, and a parishioner of St. Benilde Catholic Church. He will be remembered for being a wonderful family man and friend. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of St. Margaret's at Mercy, especially to his devoted friend and caregiver, James Taylor.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass, with Fr. Pat Wattigny officiating, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 3:00PM. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 1:00PM. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery.
To view and sign the guest book, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com
