Described as “Mr. Hahnville,” Ronnie Prevost certainly fit the role passionately as someone who loved people.
“He was a family man,” said his daughter, Danelle Krupa of Dallas, Texas. “He loved God, he loved people and he loved his community. He was just a champion for the community.”
Prevost died Feb. 18 at the age of 79.
He graduated from Hahnville High School (HHS) and Southwestern Louisiana University with a BA in Education and M.A. in supervision and administration. After a brief teaching career in Texas, he settled in Luling where he worked for Union Carbide (Dow).
After his retirement, he returned to teaching at schools including Archbishop Shaw High School. He was a devout man and active in his church where he taught religious education and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 9933 and the Men’s Rosary Group. He was known in his neighborhood as the “Candy Man” and Hahnville High’s “Grandpaw” for his indomitable school spirit.
April D’Amico remembered Prevost as more than just a friend.
“He was Paran Ronnie,” D’Amico said. “He knew my husband, Anthony, since high school at Shaw. When we first visited Holy Family in 2006, Ronnie was the door greeter. He talked to Anthony like he had just seen him the day before.”
Prevost lured her husband to the Knights of Columbus.
“We’ve been part of the KC Family ever since,” she said. “We asked Ronnie to be a part of our wedding in 2007. Then with the birth of our first child in 2009, Avery, Ronnie was named his godfather. He would call us up to just sing sometimes or tell a funny joke. He was always ready for a hug at church. Ronnie was a lector, an usher, a singer for a time. Ronnie loved his church family like he loved his real family. We were better for knowing him, that’s for sure. We will miss him dearly.”
Family friend Beth Landry agreed.
“Everyone knew and loved Mr. Ronnie, especially the younger generation,” Landry said. “He touched many lives by teaching religion classes at Holy Family [church]. Mr. Ronnie also attended Hahnville football games and handed out lollipops. Children were excited to see him because they knew he would share a few kind words and a lollipop. Our community will miss Mr. Ronnie.”
They were Dum Dums, Krupa said of the candy he handed out.
He handed them to kids in the neighborhood or at football games, she said. He rode a three-wheel bike with a flag on it (a Christmas present from the family) for at least 10 years handing them out to kids. He also did it at HHS football games (he had season tickets).
“It was something everyone knew about him,” said a proud Krupa. “When we walked out of the funeral home, we all walked out with Dum Dums in our mouths. It couldn’t have been more perfect.”
It was a statement of loving remembrance for Prevost.
Krupa agreed her father also would be remembered as a man who couldn’t refuse anyone in need. Her memories abound about his willingness to help others, as well as being the kind of man who valued people for their uniqueness and applauded it.
After graduating from LSU, she recounted moving to Dallas where she met her husband, who was from Chicago.
“He called us the Polajuns – combination Polish and Cajun,” Krupa said. “Everyone was family to him – everyone. He always had a way of making you feel so special.”
Prevost also had nicknames for people. Krupa’s nickname was Big D, even though she was tiny as a child.
The Hahnville man was also a voracious letter writer.
“I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he wrote a million letters,” she said. “He wrote so many letters to everyone. He would use different colored ink. My daughter asked what was going through his mind with using so many colors in a letter.”
In fact, the writings could be like a rainbow on paper and he’d write to anyone – family, friends, the priest or someone he’d just met. The recipient was anyone who he wanted to give a kind word or even a blessing.
And Krupa added, “We all feel blessed that we had him.”
Be the first to comment