‘Political patriarch’ passes away

Judge Edward Dufresne also known as generous benefactor

Generous parish benefactor and well-known judge Edward A. Dufresne Jr. passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, according to family members.

Dufresne, 72, was working at his company, the Jackie Bee Corp., when he collapsed from what was believed to have been a massive heart attack.

Dufresne served as Clerk of Court and District Judge in St. Charles Parish before being elected as Chief Judge of the Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeal in 2001.

He is also known for his many contributions to the parish over the years. He donated 35 acres of land to the parish that was used to build the new Sheriff’s Office complex and will also be used for the new community center, which will be named after Dufresne’s father. He also donated portions of his properties on Sugarland Parkway to the parish school district, including parts of land that house R.K. Smith Middle School, the central office, the Satellite Center and the school maintenance facility.

“Judge Dufresne was a great supporter of the St. Charles Parish Public School System,” said Superintendent Rodney Lafon. “His four daughters attended our school and they continue to support our system today.

“His passing is a great loss to this community.”

New Orleans lawyer Harry Rosenberg had a close professional relationship with the judge and said he was always impressed with the man, both inside and outside of his work.

“From a lawyer’s standpoint, he was not only liked, but respected because he was always prepared. He would always follow the law religiously,” Rosenberg said. “On the personal side, he was just a loving father and grandfather and a particularly devoted husband.

“I suspect it will be a massive outpouring (at the funeral) because that’s just the kind of guy he was. He was just a warm, gracious guy and it’s sort of a dwindling breed.”

Parish president V.J. St. Pierre had known Dufresne for 40 years and relied on him as a friend and confidant.

“A lot of times I went to him for advice, even after I got elected parish president I would ask him to give me pros and cons on different issues,” St. Pierre said. “I think that he always had the interests of St. Charles Parish at heart first, and all of the structures he built in the parish were always geared to make the parish look better.

“He brought a lot of businesses into the parish and helped our tax base.”

Sheriff Greg Champagne also said that he would often seek advice from Dufresne.

“He was always good at giving advice and mediating amongst everyone to get everyone working together and cooperating,” Champagne said. “He was always a guy you could turn to for practical advice on how to accomplish things.”

Champagne described Dufresne as the “political patriarch” of the parish and a “living political history of this parish” because he knew about every political race from the past 50-60 years.

Debbie Dufresne Vial, Dufresne’s daughter, said that he was always a peacemaker in the family as well.

“Even as kids, he would always tell us if you have a problem you’ve got to work it out…don’t let it get the best of you, always communicate,” Vial said. “He was a public servant his entire life and he loved trying to better his community and I think through all of his actions he taught all of us some very good lessons about giving of your self and your time.”

Vial said that her father was also a very selfless person who was willing to help anyone.

“He was always ready to lend an ear to anybody,” she said. “Everything he did, he was always looking to how it would fit everyone else.”

Albert Laque Sr., former parish president, was another long-time friend of Dufresne.

“I knew him just about all my life – we went to school together and he and I got into politics at the same time,” Laque said. Laque often had breakfast with Dufresne and had just met with him on Sunday. “I really wasn’t expecting this…it looked like he was alright after church on Sunday.”

Laque described Dufresne as a football enthusiast who never missed a Saints game and an avid businessman who enjoyed his job.

Dufresne was born in 1938 and attended Hahnville High School. He went on to complete his high school years at St. Stanislaus College, grauduating in 1956.

On the 49th anniversary of his graduation, Dufresne was inducted into the St. Stanislaus Hall of Fame.

In 1960 he received a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. After graduating from Loyola Law School in 1963, Dufresne was elected as St. Charles Parish Clerk of Court in 1964.

He was elected without opposition to serve for the next four terms.

In 1978 Dufresne was elected without opposition as District Judge for St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes.

In 1981 the Louisiana Legislature created the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, and in October, Dufresne was elected to serve in District 3. He was elected, without opposition, to two more terms on the Court of Appeal.

Dufresne was the longest sitting member on the current bench.

On Jan. 6, 2001, Dufresne became the seventh Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. He served with distinction on the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association and on the statewide Conference of Court of Appeal Judges.

St. Pierre has ordered all flags on parish government buildings to be flown at half-staff through the day of Dufresne’s burial.

Visitation will begin on Thursday, Dec. 9 from 6-10 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hahnville. Visitation will continue on Friday at 8 a.m. until the funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

The burial will be a private affair.