Harold Francis Baquet

Harold Francis Baquet, 56, passed away Thursday, June 18 after a seven-year battle with colon cancer. Born at Charity Hospital in 1958 to the late Audrey Garnier Nicholas Baquet and the late Arsene Louis Baquet, he was blessed with strong Creole roots that can trace their ancestry back to the land grants of France to Free People of Color. His childhood included love and instruction from jazz musicians, writers, seamstresses, tile layers, cobblers, artists, cooks, restaurant owners and craftsmen and women who populated his day-to-day world. He attended Corpus Christi Elementary and graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1976. He served in the Air National Guard and apprenticed at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 130, where he became a dues paying member until his death. But his childhood love of camera and desire to emulate Photographer Arthur Bedou drove him to pursue a full-time career in communications. After working at several news outlets, eventually he was hired as the personal photographer to Mayor Ernest N. Morial and remained on staff at City Hall to serve Mayor Sidney Barthelemy. He later accepted a job at Loyola University as their University Photographer and served there for 25 years, earning numerous honors. He started a Boy Scouts Troup in Versailles Arms Apartments and taught photography to children in New Orleans housing developments before Hurricane Katrina; he was a Master Scuba Instructor for the Scuba Company; he was published in national journals and books, including John Maginnis' Louisiana Hayride profiling Governor Edwin Edwards. He taught numerous students at Loyola University how to take and print photographs as a work-study mentor. He organized with his community at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church a successful effort to keep Uptown churches open that were slated for closure, by hosting a continual prayer vigil. He loved his life, his co-workers and his family. After so many lost their family mementos after Katrina, he posted photos of New Orleans life before the storm at www.loyno.edu/baquet for people to view and download for free. He is survived by his devoted wife of 23 years, Cheron Brylski, Siblings Arsene Baquet, Albert Nicholas, Velva Flot (Dalton), and was proceeded in death by his son Harold F. Baquet, Jr., Siblings, Lawrence Baquet, and Ruby Grant. He leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren whom he loved dearly. Donations in his name can be made to Loyola University; Children's Hospital; or MD Anderson Hospital of Houston. Relatives and friends of the family are all invited to attend the funeral service on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave.; at 12:00pm. Interment Private. Visitation to begin at 10:00 am. Reception at Loyola's Campus Library. Please view and sign guestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralhome.com.