Herman Joseph Gesser, Jr.

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Herman Joseph Gesser Jr., AIA Emeritus at 11:00 am, on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Iberia, with the Very Reverend William C. Blanda, V.F. will be the Celebrant. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be observed on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 5:00 pm until 7:30 pm at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia and will continue Thursday, December 4th from 9:00 am until 10:30 am.

A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Pellerin Funeral Home, with a eulogy to follow.

Herman Joseph Gesser Jr., a man of unwavering faith, boundless entrepreneurial spirit, and deep devotion to his family, peacefully departed this world on November 28, 2025. He was born September 28, 1936, in New Iberia, LA from Stillman Mary Folse Gesser and Herman Joseph Gesser Sr., and baptized into the Roman Catholic Faith at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Iberia, LA.

Herman’s spiritual journey was a testament to the values instilled in him from his Catholic upbringing, with a strong work ethic by his mother and father, and the De La Salle Christian Brothers of St. Peter’s College along with other spiritual examples from the Mount Carmel and Holy Cross Sisters. Herman’s commitment shaped by the work ethic instilled by his parents and grandparents served as the driving force behind his two-volume pictorial narrative, entitled “A Professional Journey” (1960-2010; 50 years). This work chronicles the milestones and experiences that form the essence of this obituary.

Herman’s work ethic was further exemplified through his first job working for his grandfather Folse at the E.P. Folse Sash & Door Manufacturing Plant in 1946. At just ten years of age and earning one dollar per day, he confirmed his early entry into the working world. Herman’s work journey was further inspired at the young age of eleven to broaden his education and work experiences to impact the future building construction process. He graduated from St. Peter’s College (currently Catholic High School) in New Iberia, LA in 1954, and Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, with a Master’s Degree in Architecture in 1960.

Prior to his last semester at Tulane University and upon receiving his graduate degree, he married Faye Marie Taggart from Gadsden, Alabama on January 23, 1960. Faye was a student at Dominican College, an all-girl’s Catholic University on the corner of Broadway and St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Just fifteen months after their blind date, they married and became one for more than forty-six years, until the Lord called her on June 2, 2006. The Lord blessed this union with four children, Deborah “Debbie” Lynne, Herman “Bubba” Joseph III, Courtney Anne (deceased on day of birth), and Catherine “Cathy” Marie. Herman and the three children stated many times that not a single success would have been achieved had it not been for their loving Faye. Faye chose for her life not to be dictated by the hardships that confronted her with having Rheumatoid Arthritis at the early age of thirty, but rather she focused on faith, family, friends and local community. She loved and devoted her life to her husband and their children. Herman continuously expressed that Faye’s unwavering devotion in her Catholic Faith coupled with her tireless dedication to him and the children resulted in profound happiness with God’s many blessings that followed.

Herman initiated his fifty-year professional career upon graduating from Tulane University (1960) by returning to Edgar P. Folse Sash and Door Manufacturing business. During this time, his mother was CAO and Herman was the Building Consultant and Sales Representative for the retail building and special millwork customers. He gained experience from the builder’s perspective from three of the five Louisiana regions (Cajun Country, Crossroads, and Plantation Country) which encompassed a large area of many cities from the center to the southern part of the state.

Herman ultimately followed his entrepreneurial spirit after leaving his grandfather Folse’s Manufacturing business by opening his own professional architectural office on Monday, April 29, 1963, which marked the start of his deep-rooted, life passion and dream. Herman believed in the concept of multiple-creative design ideas that provided alternative and beneficial solution options for him to accomplish the best and most successful end- product. He has stated many times that any success he achieved was primarily because of the contributions and sacrifices his father and mother made for his education, in addition to the support from his devoted and hardworking wife, Faye, and their children.

Herman’s professional endeavors included serving as director and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of New Iberia, leading approximately two hundred and fifty employees and retiring from that position on April 14, 1998. Additionally, he served as Director of the City Planning & Zoning Commission from 1963-1998. Prior to that, Herman’s professional enterprises can best be summarized as a synopsis of two major divisions that provided building design and administrative services. These include DIVISION A: Varied building construction projects: (1)residential, (2)commercial, (3)educational, (4)medical, and (5)ecclesiastical. DIVISION B: Community Urban Planning Development: (1)Operation Impact, (2)Arts promotional programs, (3)Economic development programs, and (4)Retiree programs. Both Divisions A and B, provided a total of over four hundred and fifty (450) projects from 1960 - 2010. This fifty-year commitment comprised his practice of architecture and community development.

DIVISION A – Building Construction Projects were numerous. (1)Residential: From the very meager size prototype modules (Daily Iberian April 12, 1972) to a residence of contemporary significance of five thousand (5000) square feet (1971) depicting a white, castle-like facade along the bayou side still standing apart from any home in New Iberia today. (2)Commercial: Interior Mall Shopping Center of over 100,000 square feet (Daily Iberian, Saturday/Sunday, May 15-16, 1965 & The Times-Picayune, Sunday, June 6, 1965), and an extensive renovation of the Gouguenheim Building built in 1890 at 101 East Main Street, New Iberia purchased to accommodate two boutiques: Design Uneek’s Interior Boutique (Grand Opening on March 8, 1978) and a Hallmark Card Shop, a rental unit. The building received a community service award for the restoration (Daily Iberian, March 21, 1978); (3)Educational: Extensive renovations and additions to Herman’s Alma Mater, Catholic High School (previously St. Peter’s College) that Herman received an apostolic blessing from His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. (4)Medical: An eighty-bed, 2.7-million-dollar hospital on North Lewis Street in New Iberia, LA (Daily Iberian, March 15, 1974); (5)Ecclesiastical: Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church – 1968 with a new visionary concept through the physical arrangement of the parishioners to be closer to the altar.

DIVISION B – Community Urban Planning Developments -

Herman’s career began with the presentation of his Tulane University Community Urban Planning Development Thesis for New Iberia. He presented it to Mayor P. Armand Viator and the City Council (Front-page article July 5, 1960 - Daily Iberian) and that served as the futuristic vision of prosperity for the City of New Iberia. Dr. Harold Flory, a Tulane graduate, asked Herman to present his 1960 Tulane Graduate Thesis to the New Iberia Kiwanis Club to provoke consensus in revitalizing downtown New Iberia which Herman entitled, (1)Operation Impact, Daily Iberian September 27, 1963, and November 13, 1963. After many informal personal discussions between Herman and John Abdalla, a prominent Main Street merchant and banker, from 1965-1968 for strategy refinements and following the meeting with newly elected Mayor, J. Allen Daigre, it was decided to form an inaugural committee to implement a downtown revitalization program. The Inaugural Committee of six private property owners consisting of John Abdalla, Allen Daigre, Joe Davis, Herman Gesser Jr., Teddy Sliman, and Harold Wormser was formulated. On a dreary morning in late October, 1971 with a spirit of optimism and consensus for moving forward with a revitalization agenda for downtown New Iberia, these men met and initiated the official birth of “Operation Impact”, Herman’s originally titled Thesis presentation to Tulane University; (2)Arts Promotional Programs - Herman developed and promoted several arts promotional programs entitled Main Street USA; Operation Horizon, the regional “Le Grand Festival”; Yuletide on the Bayou and Operation Community Pride. Both “Operation Impact” and the “Evangeline Theater Restoration Project” could not have been possible without the generosity of Mr. Teddy Sliman who donated the theater to the city and Bo Ackal (former LA State Representative) who secured funding from the state and contributed to its recognition in the national registry; (3)Economic Development Programs: Herman established, developed and became Executive Director for the Acadiana Municipal Economic Development Alliance (AMEDA) 1993-1998, a program for promoting economic development for twelve cities in a seven Acadiana Parish region; (4)A Regional Retiree Program for the Acadiana area of Louisiana entitled “Cajun Country USA” – “Joie de Vivre” Retirement Committees.

In his fifty years of practice, he contributed many hours to professional, government, business, and community organizations. The following is a selective list of the most prominent: PROFESSIONAL: American Institute of Architects (Emeritus Member); American Society of Interior Designers, National Trust for Historic preservation. GOVERNMENT: Member of Iberia Parish Regional Planning Commission, member of the Governor’s State Board of Supervisors for the Universities of Louisiana System, member of Lieutenant Governor’s Retirement Task Force. BUSINESS: Herman Gesser & Associates – Architects & Interior Designers, AIA, ASID, President of Designs Uneek Inc, an Interior Design & Furnishings business, President of Impact Properties, Inc., a real estate holding and development company, founding board member, Bank of Iberia, founding board member and Vice President of Fidelity Federal Life Insurance Company, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA. COMMUNITY: Kiwanis Board Member and President in 1973, Krewe of Andalusia – Board Member, President, reigning monarch – King Arthur of Camelot & Avalon – 1983; Iberia Chamber of Commerce, Board Member and President 1973, Catholic High School Board Member and President in 1980; Diocesan School Board Member, Lafayette, LA 1987-1995.

Herman’s contribution spanned over fifty (50) years culminating in his professional retirement in 2010.

Herman wrote in his two-volume book entitled “A Professional Journey”, Fifty (50) years (1960-2010) an acknowledgment section stating that the success of Herman Gesser & Associates firm was primarily attributable to the strong, family work ethic of his devoted wife, Faye, as Chief Administrative Officer. Faye handled all business records and financial matters in addition to raising their three children, Debbie, Bubba, and Cathy, who all started working in the business at a very early age. Herman’s acknowledgements from his book continue to include recognition for his three brothers in their respective areas of expertise for their contributions to Herman Gesser & Associates. Edgar Gesser for his years of professional services in accounting and administration of all state and federal tax matters; Gerald Gesser AIA, for his support and committed years of professional architectural services as a project architect; Byron Gesser for his professional systems services in establishing Herman Gesser & Associates firm as the first in Louisiana with a complete computerized system in 1986 for architectural services.

In Herman’s book, he recognized his devoted wife “Cele” (Cecilia Rose Daigle Breaux), married May 25, 2013, with prayers for their love shared together while offering God’s blessings on both and their families. Cele and Herman’s love of dancing at the Hilton and during Rhythms on the River will forever be a special time. Herman appreciated the adornment Cele had for his grandchildren. Many family times were shared all together at his favorite restaurant, LaFonda.

Herman also recognized, on behalf of Faye and their children, the memorable, happy years they all shared together with Doug and Judy Sagrera and their children. Special gratitude is also attributed specifically to Doug (George Douglas Sagrera M.D.) who provided exclusive health care at any given time, day or night to our family for years, beginning prior to the opening of his medical office in October 1963. Herman most especially recognized all the priests and religious who administered to the needs of his family during the early years. In most recent years, he recognized the special attention from Rev. Father Gary Schexnayder and Rev. Father Edward Degeyter.

Survivors include his wife, Cele and her children; his children, Deborah (Debbie) Lynne Gautreau Gesser of Charlotte, NC, Herman (Bubba) Joseph Gesser III of Washington DC, and Catherine (Cathy) Marie Gesser Blappert of Lafayette, LA; Grandchildren Adam Gautreau, Grant Gautreau, and Caroline (Nathan) Gautreau Davis; Isabella, Alexander, Abigail, and Harrison Blappert; Great grandchild, Jack Davis. He was called by his grandchildren “Popie”. Survived also by brothers Edgar (Karen) and Byron (Darlene) Gesser and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Faye of 46 years, his parents, Herman Joseph Gesser Sr. and Stillman Folse Gesser, brother, Gerald Gesser, and sister-in-law Diana Lee Gesser.

Pallbearers will be:

Herman (Bubba) Gesser III, Alexander (Alex) Blappert, Harrison Blappert, Adam Gautreau, Grant Gautreau, Byron (Jim) Gesser Jr., and Edgar (Buz) Gesser Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers will be:

Edgar Gesser Sr., Byron Gesser Sr.,

Dr. Doug Sagrera and in memory of brother, Gerald Gesser.

Special recognition and deep appreciation are extended to the amazing caregivers, especially Jennifer who exemplified compassion and humor during our father’s care. Gratitude is also attributed to Cindy and Maria from Heart of Hospice who demonstrated unconditional devotion and support to not only our dad but to our entire family. Together this team provided compassionate care that exceeded their duties.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic High School of New Iberia at 1301 De La Salle Drive, New Iberia, LA 70560.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA, 337-365-3331 is in charge of arrangements.