David James Falgout
January 10, 2014
Dezra Tompkins Boudreaux
January 13, 2014
Still reeling from the shocking and tragic circumstances of his death, those who cherished Milton Bourgeois prepared for final good-byes, scheduled for Saturday.
Bourgeois, CEO of St. Anne General Hospital in Raceland, was shot to death Dec. 26 by a former employee who also shot Bourgeois’ wife, and had similarly attacked others before taking his own life. Bourgeois, who came to health care administration late in a career marked by entrepreneurial excellence, has been hailed as a leader in south Louisiana’s health care circles, described as a no-nonsense hospital chief who adapted easily and effectively into that role, which he held for 25 years.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Nativity Church in Raceland, with services to begin at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Roberta Ann Tate Bourgeois, their only daughter Dr. Toni Bourgeois Leoni and her husband Dr. Ricardo Roman Leoni II; grandchildren Jack, Ethan and Greta, of Lafayette; his parents, Milton Daniel Bourgeois Sr. and Rita Theriot Bourgeois, and sisters, Carolyn (Felton) B. Robichaux, Deanne Theriot and Cynthia (Dennis) Miranda.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alceste and Adolphine Bourgeois Theriot and Joseph and Cordelia Cheramie Bourgeois.
The 67-year-old Bourgeois was a native and resident of Raceland, who graduated from Raceland High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Nicholls State University. He then served four years in the U.S. Army as a nuclear/special weapons officer.
Prior to joining St. Anne, Bourgeois was a corporate officer of a multi-state engineering company. He was also a co-owner and served as board chairman and general partner of two oilfield service companies.
Bourgeois has served on the Louisiana Hospital Association Board of Trustees since 2004 and was its chair in 2012. He is past president of the LHA Southwest District and LHA Bayou District, and he is the past chair of LHA Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy council. He also served as the chair of the LHA Research and Education Foundation. He was a board member of the LHA Trust Funds and Hospital of Louisiana, the Louisiana Rural Health Association and the Ochsner Bayou LLC.
He was also a longtime member of the American Hospital Association and was recently awarded the 2013 AHA Grassroots Champion Award for exceptional leadership in health care for the state.
In addition, Bourgeois was the managing partner of Bayou Labs LLC and has been a board member of the Louisiana Rural Health Association, HOSPACC, South Louisiana PPO, United Way, Crime stoppers, the Chamber of Lafourche and the Bayou Region, St. Mary’s Nativity School, Louisiana State Radiological Technology Board of Examiners, and Lafourche Parish Hospital Service District No. 2. He was a longtime member of the Lions Club and American Legion. He was also a sponsor of Ducks Unlimited for more than 30 years, as well as a sponsor member of Delta Waterfowl. He loved to tell jokes, travel, garden, read, golf and especially loved to duck hunt with his two companions, Chloteal and Sweet Adeline.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wounded War Heroes. Information about Wounded War Heroes, including how to donate, can be found by visiting www.wwhfr.com.
BOURGEOIS
