James Donald "Don" Didier

1944 - 2019

James Donald "Don" Didier passed away August 9, 2019 on False River near New Roads, Louisiana at the age of 75. Don was born in New Roads on June 11, 1944, where he attended grade school and high school. He enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserve and attended college at LSU where he met his future business partner David Wojciechowski. Don married his wife, Judith, and had two children Jim and Simone. The family moved to New Orleans along with David and opened the distinguished, Didier Inc on Royal St in the French Quarter. For over 45 years, the gallery specialized in fine art, antiques, and decorative objects of Americana. In addition to the notable clients and institutions that were Don's buyers, he was also known for popularizing the John James Audubon Birds of America engravings in the mid 1970's into American collecting. He was a brilliant preservationist and assisted many people and institutions in restoring every aspect of their historic houses and curating their collections. He was a member of the River Road Historic Society where he contributed in the conservation and restoration of many river road plantation complexes. Don also extended his services to the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans particularly focusing with the Ursuline Nuns. His list of historic projects and accomplishments are too numerous to name. Although Don enjoyed the finer things in life, he was also a simple man at heart. A fantastic chef and gardner, Don would say "The cheaper the cut of meat, the better the meal." Don enjoyed home life in the Irish Channel of New Orleans where he restored the 1835 MaryAnn Grigson house on Seventh St, known as Uptown's oldest house. The residence was featured on the cover of the Magazine Antiques in 2012. On Seventh St, Don entertained his friends (affectionately coined as The Seventh Street Posse') at his historic home and gardens, hosted soirees for scholars, notables and celebrities and events for Tulane's school of Architecture. At age 73, Don retired to the country to live a peaceful life on False River. Don is preceded in death by his parents Albert Sr and Ione Didier, He is survived by his son James D Didier II, daughter Simone Didier-Alleman (Michael), former wife Judith Lemoine Didier, Brothers David Didier (Jacqueline) and Albert Didier Jr (Barbara), 4 grandsons Brad W. Lore II, Aaron J Didier, Keelan D Didier, and 2 great-grandson Brad V Lore III and Connor P Lore and multiple nieces and nephews and several close friends that he considered family. Visitation services will be held in New Roads, Louisiana and announced at a later date.