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David Roy Andre'
David Andre' passed away on November 2, 2013.
Obituary
David Roy Andre
1943 – 2013
The family of David Roy Andre mourns the loss of their husband, brother,
father, and grandfather who passed away November 2, 2013. At 70 years of
age, David was a third generation resident of Gulfport. In 1961, he
graduated from Gulfport High School where he was a member of the State
Basketball Championship Team. David led an adventurous life, traveling and
sailing throughout the world, before returning to Gulfport. He and his wife
Kay Hursey lived in the historical Andre home in West Gulfport. Since
retirement, David spent the last few years restoring the home which was
heavily damaged in Katrina.
David is survived by his wife Katherine (Kay) Hursey Andre, sons Benjamin
Aaron Andre (Danielle) of Baton Rouge, and Hunter Neil Andre of New Iberia,
LA; stepchildren Gina G. Finney (Tim) and F. Ross Gatti IV (Amy) of New
Orleans; his precious grandchildren Noah, Anna Claire, Connor, Eric, Jack
and Sam; brother Steve Andre of Dallas, TX, niece Misha Andre Brown of
Biloxi, and favorite cousin, Ellen Andre Stewart of Gulfport. He was
preceded in death by his parents Neil and Frances Rush Andre and older
brother Rush Neil Andre.
Second only to family, David’s passions in life were sailing and his
commitment to his hometown of Gulfport. As a teenager, he raced and taught
sailing in the Fish Class sailboats at Gulfport Yacht Club. He made his
first Transatlantic voyage in 1963. As First Mate and Navigator, he sailed
for one year and 30,000 miles aboard Ted Turner’s 12 meter “American Eagle”,
which won the first World Ocean Racing Championship. Two additional
Transatlantic crossings and numerous national and international races are in
his log book. He once assisted in sailing a yacht from Portugal to Gulfport
that was so large it had to dock in the ship harbor.
After attending Auburn University School of Mechanical Engineering
(1961-1965), he joined the US Naval Reserve, serving aboard the US Shangri
La, an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. He then worked for Offshore
Logistics in Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, India, Burma, Thailand Indonesia,
Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Trinidad-Tobago. In all, David
traveled to 53 countries, living in three outside the U.S.
David returned to the States, working as an oil and gas acquisitions
consultant in Lafayette, LA, when he met and married Kay. In 1996, the
couple moved into David’s family home in Gulfport, where he immediately
became involved in community affairs. His nautical interests led him to
push for the creation of the Mississippi Sound Maritime Historical
Foundation, serving as President. He worked to secure state grants to
preserve the old Carnegie Library to house the Mississippi Sound Historical
Museum and Community Sail Training Center. After Katrina, he continued to
work to secure grants for the revitalization of the city of Gulfport.
David was a founding member of the West Side Community Association, Past
President of the Gulf Coast American-Italian Association, a member of Pass
Christian Yacht Club, member of the Gulfport Business Club, a candidate this
year for City Council, and an active member of St. Peters-by-the-Sea
Episcopal Church.
David’s family and friends, of which there were many, rejoice in the memory
of his life of service to his family, friends, community, and his faith in
the Lord. They wish him well as he sails beyond 30 N to a brighter
horizon.
Visitation is Thursday, November 7, 2013 from 12 noon until 1:50 p.m. at
Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The
funeral service swill follow St. Peters by the Sea Episcopal Church at 2:00
p.m. Interment will follow at Biloxi City Cemetery, Biloxi with U.S. Navy
military honors.
The family prefers memorials to Trafficking Hope, 170732 Highland Road-Suite
G-175, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 and write Dawn Andre on the memo line of check.
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On March 23, 2013 David wrote:
On the first day of Spring this year, Kay and I moved back into the main
house at 623 Woodward.Very slow restoration due to an aging contractor, me.
We have lived in the garage apt. since Katrina. I have my first blood grand
son Noah Rush Andre' born almost on my 68th, so Noah is nearly 2. I continue
to sail, sometimes on Janice Toon's Ariel a 43'r. Newest news can be found
on facebook David Andre Gulfport City Council Ward 2 If you live in Gulfport
Ward 2, please vote for me in Rep. Primary May 7. If you can't vote, send
money. Friends of David Andre', c/o John S. Heath,CPA-POB 1842, Gpt.39502
Victory Party details later.
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On July 18, 2008 David wrote:
Prior to Katrina, I ended my affiliation with the Mississippi Sound Historic
Foundation and Museum (which I founded in 1996). Also the Community
Sailtraining Program which I started as part of the Museum in 2003. Began
work on renovations to 623 Woodward Avenue in July 2005 when I gave up on
keeping the Museum and Sailtraining Program going since I did not raise
enough funding for all the programs and neither did the Board.
After working two months on my new historic preservation project, Katrina
came and added to my work list. I stayed in the house, but couldn't keep
the 34" of water from entering and pretty much ruined all, but the house
stayed on its foundation. Water in my yard was 6.5 feet deep! All cars and
trucks (did you know they float?) flooded.
The good news. The 1950 garage apartment I help build when I was seven
years old, did not flood so that became home. I have been working on the
main house since, with occasional help from electricians, carpenters, a very
talented boat builder who is completing kitchen furniture for Kay, and a ton
of volunteers just after the storm. Hope to move in to have Thanksgiving
dinner 2008. That's the target.
Any to you that read this, send in an update. I attended Becky Skelton
Brooks' funeral today and saw a good group of our Class of 61 there. Send us
an update, for while mundane as the above, it would be of interest to some.
God bless you all. David Andre'
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Previous Entry from 2001:
Attended Auburn University 1961-1965, made first transatlantic sailing trip in 1963.
Worked as construction engineer in New Orleans, lived in the French Quarter. Joined Navy
Reserve as Vietnam continued. After two years in USNR aboard CVA Shangri La (aircraft
carrier in Med)(1967-1968) sailed for a year and 30.000 miles aboard the 12 metre
"American Eagle" including two transatlantic trips. Then worked for Offshore
Logistics(Olog) for 14 years in Malaysia, Singapore (travelled regularly to India, Burma,
Thailand, Indonesia, Phillipines, Japan, Hong Kong and China). With sailing, Navy, and
work have visited 53 countries, lived in three. After 2 years in Trinidad, returned to
Lafayette, La. to corporate headquarters for Olog. As VP of Olog International, continued
to travel Europe, Africa, S.America and SEAsia developing International Partnerships. Had
Benjamin when I was 40 years old, Hunter when 42. They are 18 and 16 this summer. Worked
for 15 years as an oil and gas acquisitions consultant, living in Lafayette. Met Kay ten
years ago, married Kay five years ago, returning to Gulfport three years ago. In 1986
founded the Mississippi Sound Maritime Historical Foundation and have been President until
this year(2001), assuming an Executive Directors role to administer grants received from
the Ms. Tidelands Trust Fund to preserve the old Carnegie Library building 1300 24th
Avenue, downtown Gulfport to house the Mississippi Sound Historical Museum & Community
Sailtraining Center, design and build exhibits with grants received from the Ms. Dept. of
Archives and History and the Ms. Senate, and seek capital funding for the ongoing
development and operation of the Museum.
When I am not working on my very old house, or kinda old wooden boat, I still sail, mostly
ocean races, fish in saltwater, flounder when I can stay awake long enough, and Kay and I
collect antique furniture and local pottery. Kay's daughter's boys Connor(2) and
Eric(4mo.) take up an increasing amount of our time (on weekends and holidays). Kay works
as a dental hygienist and is the most dedicated grandmother one could find.
I am a member of the First Presbyterian Church - PCA, the Gulfport Yacht Club, the Poverty
Point Yacht Club (Chaplain), the NRA, and am a Director of the Friends of the Gulf Island
National Seashore. |
