It's hard to imagine my life without Coach Louque having been in it. He was my track and field and cross country coach at Jesuit from 1991-1996. Those track meets in eighth grade and those cross country meets--all those Saturday mornings at the Lakefront--those meets we travelled to as a team--the way that I learned to push myself as a runner and a person--the fact that most of the friendships that I still maintain came directly from track and cross country. I'm scared of who I'd be without Coach Louque in my life. Without those friends, without cross country...I don't know...I'd be a worse person, that's for sure.
Coach Louque has affected my life to such a degree that I can't fathom it. I love that man, and I thank him.
Visitation will take place Friday, August 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
at the Garden of Memories on Airline Highway. Visitation will also
be on Saturday, August 22 beginning at 9 a.m. in the
Chapel of the North American Martyrs on the campus
of Jesuit High School. A Mass will be celebrated at Noon,
followed by burial in the Garden of Memories.
In accordance with the wishes of the family, donations may be made to the general scholarship fund of either Jesuit High School (4133 Banks St.; N.O. LA 70119) or Catholic High School of New Iberia (1301 Delasalle Dr.; New Iberia, LA 70560-6790). Indicate your donation is in memory of Rodney Louque. If you wish to send flowers,
send them to the Garden of Memories; they will move them here for Saturday’s services.
An article taken from www.jesuitnola.com about Coach Louque:
Rodney Louque, a beloved teacher and coach at Jesuit High School for 23 years who exhibited enthusiasm, compassion, dedication, and spirituality in the classroom as well as on the field, died on Wednesday morning following a courageous four-year battle against cancer.
Mr. Louque was 65-years-old and, since arriving at Jesuit in 1986, had taught biology and physical science while juggling coaching responsibilities for Jesuit’s football, track, and cross country teams.
Coach Louque was married for 40 years to Jeanie Stein Louque, who teaches computer science at Jesuit High School. They have three daughters and six grandchildren. One of their grandsons, Tyler Gonzales, is a Blue Jay and member of the Class of 2013.
“The entire Jesuit community extends its heartfelt condolences and prayers to Coach Louque’s family,” said Michael Giambelluca, principal of Jesuit High School, who added that Coach Louque could have elected to retire any time after his cancer was diagnosed in spring 2005.
“But the most important thing to him was continuing to teach and coach,” said Giambelluca. “Coach Louque wanted to live life to the fullest by serving as an example for high school students and athletes everywhere that we all face challenges in life, and we must face those challenges head on and never give up.”
Coach Louque’s battle against the disease involved aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments that frequently left him exhausted and depleted of energy. Yet, even after teaching several classes, he could often be seen wearing a big straw hat and sitting in a chair under the shade of a large oak tree bordering the Will Clark Field behind Jesuit while his team practiced nearby.
“He pushed himself to attend most practices and competitions despite the ill effects from his treatments,” said David Moreau, Jesuit’s athletic director. “We all felt very fortunate whenever he was seen sitting under the oaks calling out instructions and words of encouragement to his team. I know that his students and players also felt extremely grateful for his dedication to teaching and coaching.”
Whether teaching biology or physical science, Coach Louque came to class prepared and knowledgeable about his course material. He always began class with a prayer and enjoyed a great rapport with his students. Although he admitted his organizational skills could be better, Coach Louque wrote that he hoped his students would judge him as a teacher who “really cared and loved them unconditionally.”
Over the years, Coach Louque served as an assistant coach for Jesuit’s football, cross country, and track teams. For a time, he was also head coach of Jesuit’s track team as well as the cross country team. One of the highlights of his head coaching career was when the 2003 Blue Jay cross country team won the state championship. It was the first of four consecutive state titles that the Jesuit cross country team brought home.
Coach Louque received a bachelor of sciences degree in science and physical education in 1969 from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) in Lafayette (now ULL). He immediately started his teaching and coaching career at Hanson Memorial High School in Franklin, LA. During this time, he finished work on his Masters degree in education at USL.
Coach Louque taught and coached at several high schools before signing on at Jesuit High School, including Catholic High School (New Iberia), Vermilion Catholic High School (Abbeville), and St. Charles Catholic High School (LaPlace).
He believed that teachers at Jesuit High School should always be truthful, God-fearing, and embracing of diversity. “Put God above everything else and be truthful to the mission of Jesuit, which will continue to be a diverse community,” he wrote. “To know that my friendship with the teachers who I have taught with through the years was important to them and myself is how I hope my success as a leader will be judged. I would like to be known as a faith community builder.”
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