Obituary of John-P. St. -Raymond

Decorated Veteran, Real Estate Investor John P. St. Raymond, a decorated World War II veteran, mechanical engineer and real estate investor, died peacefully on Thursday, June 23, 2005 of congestive heart failure at his home in Metairie. He was 80 years old. A New Orleans native, he was born on October 24, 1924 to Martha Ferran and Albert St. Raymond. He graduated from St. Aloysius High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University. Mr. St. Raymond served in the Army in World War II, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge under General George Patton. He received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Meritorious Acheivement in Ground Combat Award, and the European Theatre Award with three stars. He worked for the Monsanto Corporation and later co-founded St. Raymond-Landry Real Estate Development and Investment Company. He was appointed by former Mayor Moon Landrieu to serve on the Board of Building Standards and Appeals, which oversaw the construction of the Louisiana Superdome among other projects. Mr. St. Raymond was a member of the Bienville Club, Mid-Winter Cotillion and the New Orleans Country Club. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 40 years, Ruth Gaudet St. Raymond, and his first son, John Pierre St. Raymond, Jr. He is survived by his second wife, Jean Lawson St. Raymond, three sons, former State Representative Jim St. Raymond of New Orleans, Blaise St. Raymond and his wife, Susan, of Houston, and Stephen St. Raymond and his wife, Melanie, of Easton, Connecticut, one daughter, Michelle St. Raymond Nader and her husband, Jim of Mandeville, Louisiana, eight grandchildren, and his sisters, Audrey S. Vitter and Marie Louise Zimmerman of New Orleans. A Mass will be said Saturday morning at 11:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 444 Metairie Road. Burial will be in St. Louis #3 Cemetery on Esplanade Avenue. In lieu of flowers, Masses preferred. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home, 4127 South Claiborne Avenue in charge of arrangements. Info: 821-8411. Please visit www.tharpsontheimertharpsouthclaiborne.c om to sign family guest book in the Current Family Services section. Published in The Times-Picayune from 6/24/2005 - 6/25/2005.