More detail on this person: Kerry Michael Massari died early Friday morning, July 31, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the age of 65, after a valiant fight against Parkinson's disease. He was a native of New Orleans and graduated from De La Salle High School in 1961. He attended the University of New Orleans then pursued his lifelong dream of flying by enlisting in the Marine Corps and attending flight school in Pensacola, FL. Following completion of flight school he was deployed to Vietnam where he flew over 420 combat missions in helicopter gunships and earned the rank of Captain. He was shot down and sent to San Diego, CA for medical recovery. There he completed his Marine Corps service as a flight instructor. After the service, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Theology at the University of San Francisco and went on to complete Graduate Studies at the School of Applied Theology. Kerry returned to New Orleans to attend Tulane Law School. He graduated in 1973 number one in his class. Kerry clerked one year for United States District Judge Fred Cassibry. He then joined the firm of Liskow & Lewis in Lafayette, LA and practiced oil and gas law for eighteen years. He was well known and respected in the specialized field of titles and unitization. Kerry retired in 1992 after developing Parkinson's disease. In 1998 he moved to the Tampa Bay area in Florida, where he had spent his summers as a youth with his father's family. It was there he married Debra Gates. Kerry was predeceased by his father, Frank Xavier Massari, and his mother, Beverly Marie Duplantier Massari. He is survived by: his beloved wife, Debra Gates Massari; his elder son, Dr. Christopher Michael Massari, his wife Kendra Renee Massari, and their son, Samuel Michael Massari of Eugene, OR; and his younger son, Darren Bernard Massari. Kerry had a love of reading and philosophy. He was an avid duck hunter and enthusiastic golfer. He enjoyed playing ping pong, pool, darts, and cards. Above all he loved his family and friends. He was a generous and loyal father, husband, friend, and law partner. He was widely admired for his joyous spirit, courage, intelligence, and loving kindness. He will be missed and long remembered by all of those who mourn his passing. A private memorial service will be held at the home of friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kerry's name to St. Joseph's Abbey, 75376 River Rd., Saint Benedict, LA 70457or the Jean T and Larry Kreamer Scholarship, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, P. O. Box 44290, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504.
This information was last updated 09/25/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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