Patrick Lewis Gootee

Born June 21, 1947, Pat was a proud New Orleans native and a graduate of St. Aloysius High School and University of New Orleans.

Pat Gootee was a son of this city, a bon vivant and a raconteur. He was a generous and kind man always looking for ways to make you feel comfortable, welcomed and of course, well-fed. He met you where you were and within minutes you were regaled with stories of New Orleans lore, a list of his favorite restaurants, or ways to maneuver through the myriad enchantments of his beloved French Quarter.

He met the love of his life, Elaine Toups Gootee, on a train to Chicago enroute to a Catholic Youth Conference. They began dating when they were 16 and were blessed to enjoy 57 years of marriage that grew to include four children and an ever-expanding group of life-long friends. Together they created an open-door policy for friends, family, their kids’ friends and whoever wanted or needed a place to pass a good time. Hospitality was paramount.

And like most New Orleanians, he loved the Saints, Tigers and Mardi Gras! Carnival was sacred, and in his younger days made every parade with his kids in tow walking out the door with salted peanuts in his pocket to snack on with a beer. He was a proud member of the Mystic Krewe of Hermes and enjoyed many a Mardi Gras on a balcony in the French Quarter surrounded by equally enthusiastic revelers. Following Katrina and their move to Faubourg St. John, he and Elaine boasted of 15+ years of perfect attendance at Jazz Fest. Longtime parishioners of St. Dominic and Our Lady of the Rosary, Pat and Elaine were joined in devotion to their Catholic faith and a steadfast commitment to those less fortunate

A third-generation contractor, he cofounded Gootee Construction, Inc. in 1991 serving as President. He strongly believed in giving back to the construction industry. Pat was President of Louisiana Associated General Contractors, AGC of America Board of Governors, Vice Chairman of the LA State Contractors Licensing Board and several committees of the Mechanical Contractors Association. In 1992, he helped establish LA Contractors Educational Trust Fund which to this day dedicates funding to construction programs in schools across the State. Civically, he was Chairman of the NO Workforce Investment Board and NO School to Career Board, a board member of the UNO Research & Technology Foundation and President of the St. Dominic School Board.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Ambrose Patrick Gootee and Marjorie Grimaldi Gootee and was the devoted father to Alison Gootee (Ted McGuinness), Ryan Gootee (Sara Mayer), Kevin Gootee (Blake Fullmer) and Molly Gootee Reed (Beau Reed). He was also “Papa Dee” to 5 grandchildren (Grace Gootee, Harrison Gootee, Henry Gootee, Madison Reed, Hadley Reed) and 2 step grandchildren (Jack McGuinness and Matthew McGuinness).

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all of the staff at Ochsner Hospital and Notre Dame Hospice for their care and compassion.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church at 3368 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM, with a Mass following at 12:00PM. Interment will follow immediately after services in St. Louis Cemetery No 3.

If you would like to honor Pat, please consider donating to Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans www.no-hunger.org or Haiti Mission Inc. (www.haitimissioninc.com)