Robert Paul Guilbault, Jr.

Robert Paul Guilbault, Jr. passed away on April 18, 2024 after fighting Amyloidosis AL and Myeloma for over a year. Paul spent his last night surrounded by his devoted wife Lynn, their children and spouses, Paul and Joanna Guilbault, and Shelley and Mike Curry, and his brother Glenn. He was 77 years old.

Paul attended St. Dominic Elementary and Jesuit High School in New Orleans and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an Engineering degree in 1968. He and Lynn married shortly after and returned to New Orleans to begin his career with Shell Oil. Paul was commissioned an officer in the US Army after having been in ROTC at Notre Dame and was stationed at Ft Knox for two years where he worked for the Armor school. He returned with his family (of four now) to New Orleans and continued with Shell, also earning his MBA at UNO which led from Engineering roles to Energy Marketing. He was an avid golfer since being on the high school team (over the course of his life he had 3 holes in one!) and a member at Metairie Country Club. Paul was transferred to Houston in 1986 moving into the Champions area and becoming a member at Raveneaux Country Club. He eventually aided in founding Coral Energy, a subsidiary of Shell, in 1995. He remained as VP of Marketing until taking an overseas role in London with Shell International. He would joyfully finish his career there while also traveling all over Europe with Lynn. They were simultaneously building their dream home on Lake Conroe in Bentwater and adding grandchildren into the mix. It was during this time that he was asked to figure out his patriarchal title and was inspired by his love of wine to select "duPape" in honor of one his favorite wines, Chateauneuf du Pape. He is still called this by not only his grandchildren but many others as well. He enjoyed all of his water toys (the boat is called the "M'Lynn") and ensuring they were in fine running order for his grandkids whom he loved to take out on the lake, introducing them all to the "circle of doom" which they loved. Paul was considered an entertainer extraordinaire by many who were lucky enough to come into his home and be treated to his lovingly curated cocktails and carefully selected wines. He might have been referred to as "Juan the pool boy" by gathered groups of ladies visiting for weekends when he would deliver drinks and platters of treats poolside. These hosting tendencies extended to the many shared trips to Hawaii, which became like a second home to him. Paul was an integral member of the "Masters Group" who had been traveling to watch the Masters Golf tournament in Augusta or in Cabo since 1991. He was always trying to make people laugh and be comfortable and he was rarely ready for the party to end. In his home you will find references to living on "Lake Time," always being 5 o'clock, being grateful, and that "Life is short, drink good wine." He loved his wife, his kids, his grandkids, and his friends unabashedly. He loved the ND Irish, the Astros and the Saints pretty fervently as well. And for some reason he seemed to love the stock market and all those "squawking heads" a lot too.

Paul was lucky enough to be married to the girl of his dreams for almost 56 years; they served as the marital role models for their children who aspired to be the loving, giving and kind couple and parents that they themselves had. Paul is survived by his wife, Lynn Datzman Guilbault, who still brought stars to his eyes (as told to doting nurses recently) and by his children R. Paul Guilbault III, MD and Shelley Guilbault Curry (the Princess) by their spouses, Joanna Southern Guilbault and Michael Joseph Curry whom he loved and respected as his own children; by his grandchildren Sam, Collin and Chase Curry and Matthew, Reid and Evan Guilbault; by his brother Glenn B. Guilbault and sister Julie G. Rodrigue. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Paul Guilbault and Catherine Vogts Guilbault (Bob and Cat to many) and two of his brothers Michael C. and Charles "Corky" Guilbault. We know they are sharing a drink together now.

A funeral Mass will be held May 3 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Plantersville, TX at 1:00 P.M. with a reception to follow at the church hall. Another service will be held May 10 at St. Dominic Church, 775 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA, with visitation at 11:00A.M. and Mass at 12:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to NODCC (National Organization for Disorders of the Corpus Callosum- nodcc.org/donate) or Catholic Relief Services.