Sheldon F. "Skip" Brechtel

Sheldon Francis Brechtel, Jr., affectionately known as “Skip,” passed peacefully at his home on February 23, 2025, surrounded by his family. Skip was born on March 1, 1951 to Sheldon Brechtel, Sr. “Shelly” and Audrey Abadie Brechtel. Skip grew up with his three siblings, Gerard “Jerry,” William “Billy,” and Joy (Spansel), on Hastings Place in the Irish Channel. At an early age, Skip developed a love of sports, playing basketball and baseball around the corner from his home at Kingsley House. He excelled in sports during high school at Redemptorist where, as a senior, he was team captain of the basketball team and earned accolades of All-District, All-City, and top district scorer. He continued his basketball career on a scholarship to Loyola University where he played starting guard for the Wolfpack in 1972. Outside of sports, Skip was voted “Ideal Boy” of Redemptorist High School in 1969.

On December 22, 1972, Skip married the love of his life, Patricia Clade. In their 52-year marriage, Skip and Patti raised their three children, Kelly, Kyle, and Kate. He was affectionately loved as “Paw Paw" for the last 22 years by Jackson, Mason, and Abby Becker, Charlotte Brechtel, and Lee and Cole Ryan. Skip shared a special relationship with his two sons-in-law, Justin Becker and Matt Ryan. Skip will also be missed by his brothers and sisters-in-law, as well as 13 nieces and nephews.

Skip’s career spanned industries in accounting, business operations, insurance and technology. Skip ultimately started his own insurance company at age 45 which merged with his present-day company, CCMSI. While Skip could not convince any of his three kids to come to work for CCMSI, he did recruit six of his nieces and nephews to join him. Skip had a special affection for his clients, colleagues, and employees, with whom he often traveled and hosted at his home.

Bar none, Skip’s favorite past-time was golfing, whether it be at Chateau Country Club (where he scored his hole-in-one), English Turn, City Park, Pensacola Country Club, and even sharing a foursome with his son and sons-in-law at Pebble Beach. Golfing also blessed Skip with some of his greatest and lifelong friends. Skip also enjoyed taking his boat out on Lake Pontchartrain, taking pictures of the sunsets at the beach, and traveling—whether it be European river cruises, meeting friends in Abaco, or the wine country in California and France.

Skip had a deep faith which inspired him to lifelong efforts in serving his community. He served as President of the Christian Brothers Foundation and chaired the auction and routinely worked the fair at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Skip cherished his time as a long-time board member and ultimately, President, of Kingsley House, now known as Clover, where he used to play as a child.

After almost 74 years of sharing his love of life, faith, hard work, and genuine positive outlook, Skip was called home to the Lord where undoubtedly he was greeted with “Well done! What a life well-lived!”

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Skip at a service to be held on Saturday, March 8 at St. Mary’s Assumption Church, 923 Josephine St., in New Orleans. Visitation will be held from 9:30-11 am, with mass to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Skip’s name to Clover (formerly Kingsley House) at https://clovernola.org/ways-to-give, or Amigos for Christ at https://amigosforchrist.org/ways-to-give. Additionally, Skip’s family would appreciate anyone who would give blood in his name, as Skip received regular blood and platelet transfusions throughout his illness.