William J. Gandolini Jr.

GANDOLINI William J. Gandolini, Jr. died on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas, as a result of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Mr. Gandolini was 77 and temporarily residing in Houston as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Gandolini was born in New Orleans, LA in 1928 and a life long resident of the area. He attended S. J. Peters High School and then worked in Commercial Business before entering LSU in 1946, where he earned a B.S. Degree in Accounting and a J. D. from the LSU Law School in 1952. He was in the U. S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corp during the Korean Conflict serving at bases in the northeast and Greenland. After being honorably discharged, Mr. Gandolini returned to the New Orleans area to enter into private practice as an attorney, accountant and tax practitioner, which he continued to do until his evacuation to Houston. In his personal life, Mr. Gandolini loved football and baseball and was a fervent LSU fan. In over 50 years he missed less than 5 home games, except when he was in the military, until his health prevented him attending the games. After that, life was put on hold to hear or see LSU's games on the radio or TV. Mr. Gandolini shared his love of sports with young people. He volunteered his time to coach New Orleans Recreation Department youth teams in the late 50's until the early 60's and then older young men in the All-American League from 1958 - 1965. He was the 1964 and 1965 coaching staff of the teams representing the New Orleans Area at the National AAABA tournament in Johnstown, PA. He also organized the Young Men's Business Softball League in 1958. Mr. Gandolini worked with St. John Vianney Prep High School in various capacities, including being a PE instructor and assistant baseball and football coach at different times when the school opened until the Archdiocese of New Orleans closed the school. Mr. Gandolini loved to travel and did so extensively with his family throughout the United States and Canada, and especially enjoyed friendships he developed over the years in Napa Valley, California and Oahu, Hawaii.Mr. Gandolini is survived by Irene and Eileen Burke, Donald and Mary Lou Gandolini, and Glenn and Cecile Gandolini; 4 nieces and 2 nephews; and many cousins. He was the son of William J. Gandolini, Sr. and Elizabeth Mipro Gandolini, who are deceased. Also, his brother Kenneth is deceased. Please join the family on the night of Monday, January 9, 2006 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery) to celebrate Mr. Gandolini's life. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 3:00 PM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 448 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA. Visitation at church will begin at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at a later date. If you cannot attend the services, please include you favorite story about Mr. Gandolini at www.lakelawnmetairie.com to be included in Mr. Gandolini's book of memories. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to help keep Mr. Gandolini's spirit alive by considering a contribution to the William J. Gandolini Memorial Scholarship Fund at the following address: Tiger Athletic Foundation, Attn: William J. Gandolini Memorial Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 711, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.