Stephen Foster Coenen

COENEN Stephen Foster Coenen, originally from Rayville, Louisiana and later settling in New Orleans, Louisiana, passed from this life into the Hands of our Lord during the early morning hours of September 22, 2008, following a valiant battle with lymphoma cancer. A memorial service and Catholic Mass will be held in celebration of Steve's life on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square in New Orleans, officiated by Msgr. Crosby Kern. A burial service will be held at the Rayville Masonic Cemetery in Rayville at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2008, officiated by Rev. Philip Pazhayakari, CMI. All friends of Steve are invited to attend either or both services. Steve was truly a Man for All Seasons as his life combined a multitude of professions and service including being a noted professional landscape architect, painter, sculptor, professional performing artist, and humanitarian who gave his life, time and talents to those of his beloved City of New Orleans and throughout the United States. Steve was born in Rayville, Louisiana on June 2, 1949, the son of William R. Coenen and Mary Elizabeth Ricard Coenen. His mother died when Steve was very young and he always credited his two aunts, Marguerite Coenen and Lorraine Lamie, for their love, guidance and inspiration during his upbringing. Steve was predeceased by his parents, as well as his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Ricard of Denham Springs, Louisiana and Mr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Coenen, Sr. of Rayville, Louisiana. Steve was survived by siblings Carol Camille Coenen Christie and her husband, Ron of Brenham, Texas, William R. Coenen, Jr. and his wife, Ruthie of Rayville, Thomas R. Coenen and his wife, Darlene of Loranger, Louisiana, Margaret Ann Holdiness of Alto, Louisiana, and his step brother, John R. McClendon and his wife, Odwina of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was also survived by fifteen adoring nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends from across the country. Steve graduated from Rayville High School in 1967, being named Mr. RHS and remained very close to many of his RHS classmates throughout his life. He attended Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana - Monroe) and, in 1975 graduated from the School of Landscape Architecture at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. During his LSU days, Steve was one of the featured vocalists and guitarists at The Christ the King Catholic Church each Sunday and frequently entertained around the campus with fellow performers. Following graduation from LSU, Steve worked for several years as a lead entertainer for Holland America Cruise Lines, honing his skills as a singer, dancer and musician. Steve chose New Orleans as his home, inspired by the native Louisiana oak trees and year round plant growing season. His creative genius in landscape and floral arrangement and design attracted many individuals and hotels as clients. Steve was widely known in the New Orleans area for his "moonlight and magnolias garden look" as described by Hardy and Douglas in Gardens of New Orleans, and was particularly sought after during Mardi Gras and Christmas seasons for planning and decorating for fabulous parties. Ever moving into new art forms, Steve developed the unique process of creating mosaics and sculptures of glass and ceramics, using discarded pieces of crockery, porcelain and glass. Steve's home in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, filled with plants and many of his sculptural creations, was the subject of many articles in newspapers, magazines and gardening books. Those fortunate enough to own a "Steve Coenen" creation truly received a lifelong conversation piece. Steve's contributions to the City of New Orleans were numerous. He was a frequent performer at the Le Petit Theatre, the La Chat Noir Theatre, as well as the Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre and the Jefferson Parish Arts Society productions. Steve literally put his life on the line on December 7, 2002 when he rescued an individual being victimized by an assault in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Steve was shot in his chest by one of the perpetrators, but through his efforts, the life of the victim was spared. For this act of heroism, Steve was presented with the 2003 New Orleans Public Safety Citizen of the Year award, the 2003 Storer Boone Humanitarian award for outstanding contributions to society and community and in 2005 was one of 21 individuals in the United States to receive the Carnegie Medal for extraordinary heroism. After becoming ill, Steve continued his painting career, becoming a prolific watercolor artist, often donating his works to those critically ill at M. D. Anderson Hospital and to the doctors and caregivers as well. He also wrote, painted watercolor scenery, and recorded songs for a children's book entitled "Little Bird" which will be published posthumously. Steve will be long remembered for his flamboyant suits of orange, blue, and purple, "matched" with shoes of red or green, worn to events such as a niece's wedding, where he entertained the crowd with his Fred Astaire-like dance style, always leaving the crowd both amazed and full of laughter. Those who knew Steve seemed to always smile, if not downright laugh out loud, when remembering his talents, wit and charm. He will be forever a favorite brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to all he touched. A special thanks is due Steve's sister, Carol, for her daily encouragement and care of Steve during the last 16 months of his life, to Dr. Louis Fayard of M. D. Anderson Hospital and to Hospice of Brenham, Texas for their loving care during the last weeks of Steve's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5005 Mitchelldale, No. 115, Houston, TX, 77097 or to Hospice of Brenham, TX, Hospice Brazos Valley, 302 Horton Street, Brenham, Texas, 77833.