Maurice Joseph Picheloup III

1919 - 2019

Maurice Joseph Picheloup, III, "Piche," died peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. Born May 15, 1919, in New Orleans, he had just celebrated his 100th birthday Uptown at Poydras Home where he had resided since returning to New Orleans in 2013 from Spanish Fort, Alabama. He was the son of Maurice J. Picheloup, Jr., a contractor and enlisted sailor who died in the 1918 flu epidemic, and Euphemia St. Hilaire Picheloup Pico who died in childbirth with his half-sister Dorothy when he was only 6 years old. "Boy," his nickname as a child, was raised by his maternal grandmother Elizabeth Delsa St. Hilaire with the assistance of his stepfather John A. Pico, Sr. His grandfather Maurice Picheloup owned a large dairy in the Bayou St. John area and later became Superintendent of the House of Detention for New Orleans. He is survived by his daughter Claire Picheloup Gisclair (Derby) and stepdaughters Dianne Neal Davenport (Bill) and Susan Neal Blakeman (Don); grandchildren Susy Picheloup, Ali Picheloup Durkee (Darin), Emily Picheloup, Chip Picheloup (Alyssa); step-grandchildren Bill Sciacca, Mark Sciacca (Calah), Debbie Weldon (Bill), Elizabeth Uptmore (David) and Blair Neal (Katie Peterson); great-grandchildren Chase Picheloup, Reece & Alex Picheloup; step-great-grandchildren Matthew & Nathan Sciacca; Christina & Catherine Weldon; David III, Makayla & Jillian Uptmore; and Reese Parker Neal. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Alison Chase Picheloup and step daughters-in-law Stephanie Russell Neal and Melissa Keyes Neal. Piche was predeceased by his first wife Amelie Alcee Umbach "Tiny" Picheloup, his son Maurice J. " Maury" Picheloup, IV, his second wife Priscilla Morson Neal Picheloup, stepsons William Stuart Neal & Bruce Morson Neal, and his half-sister Dorothy Joan Pico who will be interred with him in the Delsa Family tomb joining their mother and grandmother. Piche graduated from Jesuit High School in 1935. He then graduated from Tulane University with two degrees (BA '39 and BBA '42) and attended University of Texas Austin from 1939-1940. He was in the Band at Tulane and formed the TULANIANS Orchestra in 1938, playing fraternity dances, the Blue Room, and the Jung Hotel. Piche was on the Golf Team and twice served as President of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. During his year at UT, he helped to resurrect their chapter and also played music and golf. He was a former President of the Tulane "T" Club and a former Chairman of the Tulane Emeritus Club Board of Governors. He continued to support Tulane athletics and band activities until his passing. Piche served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-45 in the B-29 program as First Lieutenant Flight Engineer stationed on the island of Guam in the 39th Bomb Group. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for B-29 Missions over Japan and flew the final mission of WWII (Isesaki) on August 15, 1945, with his description of this flight and memorabilia in the National WWII Museum. After the war, Piche began his career as a partner in John Pico Machinery & Supplies and spent almost 40 years with the Cherry-Burrell Corporation, a manufacturer of food processing and packaging machinery, where he would become Director of Latin American Activities from 1968 until he retired in 1986. He was the first Chairman of the Louisiana District Export Council and on the World Trade Center International Business Committee. Until 2006, Piche was a member of Metairie Country Club, serving on the Board of Directors multiple years in the 1950's and 1960's, winning the MCC golf championship in 1958. He was a former member of the Bienville Club and the Plimsoll Club. Piche will be remembered for the kindness he showed to all, for his genuine smile, for his love of family, music, sports, New Orleans, and all things Tulane. He was a true gentleman. The family is grateful for the loving care provided by the staff of Poydras Home and would also like to thank Notre Dame Hospice for their support in his final weeks. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon on Saturday, November 30, 2019, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 631 State Street in New Orleans with visitation beginning at 11am. Interment will be at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, 3421 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Poydras Home Employee Appreciation Fund, 5354 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 or to Tulane University Athletics, Wilson Athletic Center, 2950 Ben Weiner Drive, New Orleans, LA 70118. Arrangements by Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.