Carlos Abel Laserna

1939 - 2023

Carlos Abel Laserna
December 26, 1939 - June 9, 2023
Fort Worth, Texas - Carlos Abel Laserna, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on June 9, 2023 at age 83. A Visitation will be held from 1pm to 2pm on Thursday, June 22nd followed by a Memorial Service at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel in Fort Worth, TX. There will also be a Memorial Service in Augusta, GA at a later date. Carlos was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved with his parents and younger brother Aldo to Mar del Plata, Argentina at age 11. He obtained his education in architecture, and civil/structural engineering there and spent his summers as a beach lifeguard. At age 28, he immigrated to Sydney, Australia with his wife Maria Luisa DuChamp. After spending 3 years in Australia, they immigrated to Los Angeles when the San Fernando Earthquake in 1971 convinced them to move to New York. He began working in the petrochemical field as a civil engineer, and moved from New York to Houston, Texas and eventually to Augusta, Georgia. While in New York, his son Brian was born, and daughter Marisa was born in Houston. In Augusta, he spent many years working with Bechtel at the Savannah River Plant. In 1993 he lost his first wife to cancer. By 1995, he took early retirement from Bechtel, and then met and married Gail Saunders, starting his "Chapter 2". They were married at the Augusta Sailing Club surrounded by their families and sailing friends. He began contract work and they moved to Richland, Washington, transferring to Houston within the first year. They stayed in Houston through 1999, and then moved to the DFW metropolitan area, eventually settling in Fort Worth. While there he worked in construction planning and scheduling, with projects that included the General Motors Plant in Arlington, and the DFW Airport Terminal D project. He continued to enjoy sailing, travelling, and watching his favorite sports – track and field, rugby, and Argentine soccer – ESPECIALLY River Plate! Spending time with family and his grandchildren was the highlight of his life. He was fun-loving, quick with a smile and a laugh, and always up for an adventure. His strong Argentine accent brought many fun stories during his American adventures, but his hometown friends felt he had "lost" his accent! He always claimed to be from "Deep South Texas – Argentina!" During the last years of life he faced many physical and health challenges, that limited his activities, and finally passed peacefully after suffering a massive heart attack. He was surrounded by his wife and children, his most valued and cherished people. Carlos is survived by his wife, Gail Saunders Laserna, son Brian Peter Laserna (Natalie), daughter Marisa Charlene Laserna, grandson Brendan Phillip Laserna, granddaughter Elizabeth Louise Schoenfeld, grandson Ethan Michael Schoenfeld, grandson Elijah Walker Laserna and his brother, Aldo Norberto Laserna, (Ana) of Mar del Plata, Argentina. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pedro Abel Laserna and Marina Cresencia Diaz Laserna of Mar del Plata, Argentina, his first wife Maria Luisa DuChamp Laserna of Madrid, Spain and his granddaughter Mia Moore-Laserna of Fort Worth, TX. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Youth Sailing Initiative (https://thesailingfoundation.org/what-we-do/youth-sailing-initiative/), the Leo Messi Foundation (https://foundation.fcbarcelona.com/leo-messi-foundation) or the charity of your choice.