Robert Gex

Dr. Robert Bernard Gex, father of Las Vegas Physicians, Gregory and Roderick Gex, died Saturday morning, July 29, 2006, at St. Rose Sienna Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was a lifelong New Orleanian, but traveled to Las Vegas regularly, and was a friend to many in this community. Robert was born Aug. 7, 1934, in New Orleans. He was the son of the late Wilbert Gex and the late Eva Briscoe Gex. He graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1956. As a Fulbright Scholar, he went on to study French in Lyon, France. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany. Robert then married the late Ina Claire Watts Gex in 1958 and shortly afterwards, relocated to California, where he completed his master's degree in French from the University of California at Berkely. After moving back to New Orleans, he was named secretary adjutant to the School of Law and Administration in the former Kinshasa, Zaire, West Africa, where the family lived for the next two years. He completed his academic career at the University of Missouri at Columbia, earning a doctorate in Romance Languages in 1980. Robert devoted most of his life to education in New Orleans. For over 35 years, he cultivated a career at Southern University at New Orleans, where he began as a professor of French, then dean of the Evening and Weekend College, followed by associate vice-chancellor, then finally as chancellor of the university. He then came out of retirement to take the position of interim chancellor at SUNO in July of 2005 until January of 2006. Robert has been a member of the Aviation Board of New Orleans and the Young Men Illinois Carnival Organization. He was an active member of the Mustangs Social and Pleasure Club. Robert was also a parishioner of Mater Dolorosa Church in New Orleans for 41 years and spent the last several years as a Eucharistic minister. Throughout his life, Robert was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Ina, for 45 years, wonderful father to his three sons, grandfather, brother, and good friend to many in and out of this community. His passion was to teach and promote higher education in New Orleans, and to serve his church community. Robert is survived by his three sons, Dr. Gregory P. Gex, Dr. Roderick A. Gex, and Geoffrey D. Gex of New York; daughters-in-law, Maria Gex and Susan Gex; grandchildren, Nicole, Robert, Alexandra, Sara, and Adam Gex, Christina Torres, and Jaclyn Spivey; brother, Ronald Gex; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Services are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5, at Mater Dolorosa Church on South Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans. There will be a viewing from 9-11 a.m., with Mass immediately following. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery on Gentilly Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent to the Dr. Robert B. Gex Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Mr. Gary M. Grau, Bank of Louisiana, 3340 Severn Ave., Metairie, LA 70002.