In Memoriam
My wife Hope and I both love New Orleans, me mainly for the food, her for the architecture and history, and we both love the people, but…NOLA will always be chillier than before. The thing we loved most about our visits to the Crescent City was the chance to spend time with Michel and Kevin Boudreaux, and now that’s gone. We lost Michel Levy Boudreaux in January, 2023, and now it is my still grieving duty to report the passing of Kevin Boudreaux on July 17, 2024.
Kevin Kolhmann Boudreaux was born on November 11, 1953. He attended the University of New Orleans (now LSUNO) and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He was an active member of the Beta Zeta chapter of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity, serving as social chair and developed and honed his enthusiasm and talent for hospitality.
That talent manifested in an initial career in club management which included Colonial Country Club in Harahan and the New Orleans Petroleum Club. His wonderful welcoming outgoing personality was a natural fit when he joined Michel at Mike Levy and Associates, a preeminent Louisiana brokerage general agency serving agents nationwide. Kevin was an active member of the marketing group National Brokerage Agencies and the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies for the vast majority of his insurance career.
Kevin was a long-time member and leader in the Harahan Gourmet Club, serving in many volunteer roles. True to his love of entertaining, he relished planning and hosting group events in his home and at clubs, restaurants and inns in New Orleans and the surrounding area. Every detail was attended to, from the polish of silver to floral decorations. Kevin also loved the pageantry and revelry of Mardi Gras, was a past member of the Krewe of Bacchus carnival organization and avidly followed the announcement of Rex royalty each year.
Kevin and Michel loved to travel, visit, and make memories at resorts around the country, including Houmas House Estate and Gardens in Darrow, LA, the Cloister on Sea Island, GA, and the Grand Hotel Point Clear, AL. But his most treasured were the many trips to visit his nephews Kris and Travis. Countless are the industry friends they made attending industry meetings.
Perhaps most telling of Kevin’s compassion was his devoted caregiving to Michel through her journey of kidney disease, a journey that even included the purchase of a dialysis machine and developing the training and skill to administer treatment to Michel when COVID made traveling to the clinic for treatment just entirely too risky.
A celebration of Kevin’s life is planned in October at his favorite spot, Joey K’s restaurant on Magazine Street in New Orleans.
I sometimes counsel friends dealing with the loss of a loved one to view the memories that inevitably pop up as a quick “Hello!” from those that have passed, and embrace them with a smile and a “Thanks (Kevin) for saying Hi!” rather than a tear. Eventually it really helps, at least it does for me. In the past month there have been many such great memories pass through my mind…long evenings laughing during NBA meetings, great meals at Mister B’s in the French Quarter, and especially Kevin’s sparkling eyes, fantastic smile and the camaraderie we enjoyed while I devoured mounds of truly delicious fried chicken at Joey K’s. I’m trying my best to smile when those memories hit (and my mouth does water a bit) but my “Practice What You Preach” isn’t working great quite yet. I’m still plagued with the realization that NOLA will always be a bit colder for Hope and I minus Kevin’s warm smile.[SPH]
