Louis G. Dutel Jr.

Dutel Jr., Louis G. A lifelong New Orleans resident, real estate attorney Louis G. Dutel Jr. was at one time instrumental in getting new laws and legislation put in place for legalizing land title acquisitions throughout the state of Louisiana. Dutel, 87, died Monday, May 7, 2007, at East Jefferson Hospital following a battle with colon cancer. He is survived by his five children, William J. Dutel, Esq., of Covington, Jeanne L. Dutel of Wexford, Pa., and Suzanne Dutel Jackson, Thomas A. Dutel and Louis G. Dutel III, all of Covington. Mr. Dutel was the son of the late Louis G. Dutel Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Gonzales. He grew up in the 9th Ward and attended St. Cecilia's Church. He also graduated from Jesuit High School in 1937. He attended LSU in Baton Rouge, and then went on to graduate from Loyola University in 1942, with a bachelor's of science degree in economics. Mr. Dutel was called to active duty for World War II, serving from 1942 through 1946, with the U.S. Army Air Forces 6th Photo Squadron. During his service, he was considered an expert photographer. He was honored to have been chosen to take pictures from an aerial chopper of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's funeral procession in 1945. Following his wartime duty, Mr. Dutel returned to New Orleans to attend Tulane University School of Law, where he graduated in February, 1948. Soon afterwards, he opened his own law practice and began serving as president and founder of Dutel Title Insurance Agency, first as an agency of Kansas City Title Insurance Co., then later representing Chicago Title Insurance Co. and First American Title Insurance Co. He mentored many a young lawyer in the field of Louisiana real estate law. Dutel was married to the late Nellie Northcutt Dutel, who died Nov. 23, 2000. Mr. Dutel is also survived by numerous grandchildren, Dawn Dutel Lee, Melissa Dutel, Michael, Madeleine, Matthew, Mary "Molly" Louise and Melanie Dutel, Danielle, Jonathan and Emily Martino, Abby and Kyle Jackson, Ashley, Travis, Taylor, Devon, Jacques and Louis G. Dutel IV, Justin Lee, Dillon Welsh, and Camille, John Clay and Peter Olson. He is also survived by a sister, Dorris Dutel Holmes of Atlanta; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Dutel was a member of the American Bar Association, the Louisiana, Orleans and Jefferson Parish Bar associations, the Greater New Orleans Photographic Society, and numerous alumni associations. He was active in St. Pius X Church, the Lake Vista Homeowners Association and was a fan of Mardi Gras, serving as one of the first lieutenants in the Krewe of Bacchus, as well as a former member of the Knights of Babylon. Funeral service for Mr. Dutel on Friday, May 11, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. with a Mass celebrated in the Lake Lawn chapel at noon. Internment in Metairie Cemetery. The family has asked that donations be sent in memory of Mr. Dutel to Jesuit High School.