Richard Alan Henault

Richard Alan Henault, beloved son, brother, husband, and father, passed away on Friday, December 9th from complications related to Leukemia. He was 68. Rick, a native of Rhode Island, spent much of his adult life making a home and name for himself in New Orleans after falling in love with the city while attending Tulane University for graduate school. Anyone who knew Rick was struck by the kind and genuine demeanor with which he treated everyone that he met. He will leave behind a legacy of selflessness, generosity, and philanthropy. In 1973, he began his career at Ochsner Hospital where he spent eight years doing pioneering work in healthcare management. From there, he spent five years at the University of Chicago as the Chief Operating Officer for the three hospitals and 83 clinics that made up the healthcare system. He returned to New Orleans in 1984 to be an Executive Vice President at the Methodist Health System Foundation, where he worked for 32 years until his passing. Rick was able to transform Methodist Health System from a community hospital to an integrated health system. A lifelong lover of helping fellow human beings, Rick worked tirelessly to improve the circumstances of other people and especially those less fortunate. His favorite work was to support and facilitate the work of caregivers both locally in the New Orleans community and worldwide. From 2004 onward, Rick oversaw the Philanthropic and Strategic Grantmaking initiatives for the Methodist Health System Foundation. Through his work, he sought to rebuild the healthcare infrastructure of the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He was instrumental in supporting over 120 organizations around the city both financially and with advice and counsel. He was also actively involved in other causes that allowed him to help those less fortunate than himself. Rick served as the Chairman of the Board of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, where he tirelessly worked to make sure that underserved populations of the city were given better access to instruments to secure their economic empowerment and civil rights. A lifelong student and teacher, Rick frequently spoke about how proud he was to be able to serve in the American College of Healthcare Executives, an organization which exists to advance healthcare excellence. One of the highlights of Rick's life was rising through the ranks of that organization to serve as Chairman of the Board because it enabled him to help other healthcare executives better serve their communities and continue to hone their craft. Rick also served the community through helping to shape the minds of future leaders. He was an executive in residence at his alma mater, Tulane University. He hoped to help improve the way that future healthcare leaders would serve their communities and help those in the greatest need. Rick loved food and could frequently be found in the kitchen cooking creole cuisine. He frequently joked that he made it pretty well for a guy from Rhode Island. He also enjoyed racquetball, gardening, and sailing. His favorite hobby was working on, and taking out, his boat Savoir Faire - named for a trait Rick had in great abundance. Rick also loved people. Outgoing and gregarious, Rick had the unique ability to truly and meaningfully connect. He made the people around him feel special, understood, and important. To know Rick was to love him and that love was a blessing to him each and every day. To be Rick Henault's friend was to be a part of his family. Above all, Rick's proudest accomplishment was his family. Rick was the beloved husband of Julie Blackburn Henault and the loving father of Zachary and Simone Henault. Few would say they knew anyone who loved his family more than Rick. He worked tirelessly to ensure that his wife and children had, and will continue to have, the best lives possible. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made to either The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society or The Greater Urban League of New Orleans. In lieu of sorrow, the family asks that you would treat your fellow man as Rick did- with unconditional love and a spirit of servitude. A memorial service honoring the life and legacy of Rick A Henault will be held on Wednesday, December 14th at Trinity Episcopal Church (1315 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130). Visitation will begin at 1 PM with a service to follow at 2 PM.