Benefit golf tourney raises nearly $10,000 for local hospice

Dr. Guy Waggenspack would have preferred having a fishing tournament named in his honor.

However, given the cause and the great weather, the outdoorsman would have enjoyed a golf tournament as well.

Last Monday’s Bayou Region Hospice Classic was renamed the Guy Waggenspack Memorial Golf Tournament for the former pediatrician and volunteer physician at the hospice, who died Jan. 28 at age 77.

“He was more of a fisherman and a hunter,” said Jody Waggenspack, his wife of 50 years. “He would have loved just being outside on the golf course, but he was never a golfer. We’re glad he became a part of this group.”

This was the fourth annual fundraising tournament put on by Bayou Region Hospice (BRH) at Ellendale Country Club. All proceeds go to help pay for the care of indigent patients.

“It was a cause that was dear to him,” Waggenspack said of her husband, who volunteered nearly two years with BRH. “It became nearer to him after he got involved with it because he actually visited the pediatric patients in hospice [care].”

The event raised about $10,000, according to Larry Fakier, medical and community education marketing director at BRH.

“We appreciate all the community support, all the businesses that participated, donated food and door prizes, and just helped us out,” he said.

Twenty-one teams played in the four-person scramble format. Team Settoon Towing (Barry Herrington, Troy Cunningham, Scott Gauthreaux and Rocky Laliberte) won the tournament.

There was a silent auction for a LSU print signed by Les Miles, won by Terrence Gomez of Gonzales for $755 (he gave it to his dad for Father’s Day), and a football autographed by numerous Saints players, which was won by Mike Fakier, part owner of Southland Steel, for $550.

Cunningham (2nd hole) and Lee Haydel (16th) won the longest drive contests. Chuck Olivier (4th) and Barry Haydel (17th) won the closest to the pin contest. Unfortunately, nobody got a hole in one; the winner would have received a Ford Taurus X and a Rolex watch.

Besides Jody, the other surviving members of Dr. Waggenspack’s family also attended – his sister, six children and 18 grandchildren.

“Since he had 18 grandchildren, we named one hole after each grandchild,” said Joanne Samanie, director of Bayou Region Hospice.

Dr. Waggenspack, a Gonzales native, arrived in Houma in 1961 after attending LSU for undergraduate and medical school degrees and completing his residency at Charity Hospital.

He opened a private pediatric practice where he worked solo for several years before finding a partner. In his later years, he was in practice with Drs. Bobby Haydel and A.J. Totina.

“He watched children grow from infancy to teenagers,” Waggenspack said. “He was actually involved in several generations of patients because some of the patients he started off with in ’61, he ended up taking care of after they married and had children and even some into the grandchildren.”

Dr. Waggenspack retired 12 years ago, but stayed busy hunting, fishing, gardening and joining agencies such as BRH.

“Doctors visit the dying patient in their home, and help their families support the journey they’re going through at end-of-life care,” Samanie said. “It really gives the patient courage and understanding that everything is OK.”

Darryl Brue of Team Cancer Care Center hits the approach on the 17th hole at the Guy Waggenspack Memorial Golf Tournament. * Photo by KEYON JEFF