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Coleen Perilloux Landry | all galleries >> Galleries >> Holy Cross After Hurricane Katrina Gallery > Where My Father Walked....
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April 2006

Where My Father Walked....

.....,I walked today. In 1906 my father graduated from this school and my three sons many decades later. It was built on high ground on the River Road of the Mississippi River. After Hurricane Katrina when the levees broke on the Industrial Canal and flooded the place, the EPA ordered it closed and fenced off.
In January students returned to class in portable classrooms built on the parking lot. In May the class of 2006, amongst them my grandson, will hold their baccalaureate ceremonies under these oaks and walk through the gazebo for the last time. Then, this school will close forever on this site. It is one of the oldest boys' school in New Orleans and this building is the oldest still existing in New Orleans.






Holy Cross Prior to Hurricane Katrina


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Guest 05-Aug-2010 13:24
Beautiful tribute here...I grew up in the HC neighborhood (Burgundy St) and attented HC along with my two brothers. This weekend is my 40th reunion. I will always love Holy Cross.
Jacques Couret HC 1991 21-Feb-2007 19:43
Where your father walked, where my father walked and where you my fellow Tigers all walked. My greatest memories of growing up in New Orleans.... most of them are here under those oaks by that Gazebo.

So great to read familiar names below from the 60s. My dad was class of 68, and I know some of those names from yearbooks and oral tradition. Mike Heller, for example, later taught at HC. I had him for calculus senior year. I believe his son now also teaches at HC.

God bless you all, fellow alumni. May our hearts forever praise Holy Cross' glorious name.
Andy 13-Sep-2006 04:17
As a graduate of ‘85 I was part of the moving of the gazebo to its current location. It hurts to know the school will never reopen, but I am glad to see that the gazebo still stands. This need sot move to the new school location, wherever that ends up.
Bob 22-Jun-2006 01:26
I was class of '64. As Brother Tiger Howard Couvillon recalls the class that won the state football championship. My cousin Joe Zimmerman was a teammate with current Headmaster DiGange and the others mentioned. One of my fondest memories is working for Brother Edward Lee the summer after my senior year. I helped move furniture into the Brother's residence. What a spectacular view of the river from the higher floors! Last October I drove by HC. I was in town for the funeral of Joe's father. As these photos show, one almost could believe nothing happened. Except for the bare topped live oaks, why all the fuss? It is ashamed the truth lies inside the buildings and in the ghost-town like neighborhoods. Today I work in Washington, DC area for the Homeland Security Institue. The first week of June I was in Baton Rouge at a Katrina Conference developing "lessons learned" from what faith based (churches) and non-governmental organizations did RIGHT in the first days after the storm. We will give this information to the Federal government in hopes will learn what to do right for the future.
Howard Couvillon 20-Jun-2006 03:30
I started in 7th grade, after leaving St Maurice with Richard Watson, Mike Heller, Conrad Abadie, Al Carlini, Eddie Bullitt, Ricky Fernandez, Glen Koch and many others.... and graduated in 1966 after six years on campus. I lettered as a freshman in 1963 in T & F, the year we beat Jesuit twice for the football State Championship, with Charlie Digange, Barry Wilson, Gawain DiBetta, Alan Rappold, Glen Smith, Joey McGoey, Paul Lastraps, Bobby Borison and my friends the Brinkman Bros, Mike and Billy. I was the altar boy at the ground breaking of the Bros Melchior Student Center. I couldn't wait for my son to be a Tiger and he was in one of the only 4th grade classes the school had. He graduated in 2006 and made me proud, as he was on this campus for nine years as a young man. And we both spent the best days of our life there. Thanks for the memories....
Picarella 22-May-2006 22:22
My husbad has many memories that will always live on in his heart and among friends. His name is Emile Picarella, HC alumnus of 1996. He is now a Surgery Resident at UMC in Jackson, MS. When ever asked where he went to school his first reply has always been Holy Cross High School. I guess it is a New Orleans thing to always refer to your high school. Please contact us if we can help with anythig.
Lee Rudd20-May-2006 22:49
ghosts will walk the halls, but today, you all stand proud
purpod05-Apr-2006 21:23
Oh Coleen, that is tragic!! Is there no one to write to? A Historical Society or SOMEONE? Another tragic death that can never be replaced ~ Damn that Katrina. Lemme know if there is anyone to write to; I'll send my comments to them too!
petesie05-Apr-2006 21:14
That makes me very sad. It is so beautiful and the history so deep in your family. I know it will rise in another location and be an asset to New Orleans, but it is so sad to see the original building passing into history.
CJ Burianek05-Apr-2006 21:10
Sorry to hear they are condemning it :( Looks like a gorgeous college.