Deaths Elsewhere

Banker, youth sports activist
ALEXANDRIA – Services for retired banker and youth sports activist J. Emile Belgard will be Dec. 6. He died Dec. 2 at age 83.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He worked at Rapides Bank for 30 years, leaving as Assistant Vice President, and went to work at Central Bank of Boyce as Vice President. He then moved to Opelousas and worked at First Acadiana National Bank as Vice President and was later promoted to Senior Vice President. He also worked at Washington State Bank, The Churchpoint Bank and The Sabine State Bank.
He was among organizers of Alexandria Athletic Association, known as Triple A Football, the Alexandria and Boyce Dixie Youth Baseball Associations and St. Landry Lions Youth Baseball Program which is known as SLYAA. He was recognized by the cities of Alexandria, Opelousas and Natchitoches for his devotion to youth sports.
Survivors include his wife Bobbie and two sons.
Arrangements are by John Kramer & Son.

Kean Miller co-founder
BATON ROUGE – Services for Ben Miller, Jr., co-founder of one of Louisiana’s largest law firms, are pending. He died Tuesday at age 77.
He helped found Kean Miller in 1983 and served as managing partner until 1999. During that time, the firm grew from 11 attorneys to 84. It now has more than 150 attorneys in house. He was active on a number of community organization boards and a member of the LSU Law School Hall of Fame.

LSU professor
BATON ROUGE – Services for retired LSU Food Science professor Dr. Robert Grodner will be Dec. 4. He died Nov. 29 at age 89.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II’s Pacific theater. He was on the Food Science Department faculty at LSU for more than 30 years, pursuing research and teaching. His specialties included science, food science and food toxicology.
Survivors include two children.
Arrangements are by Resthaven.

Nicholls State department chair
COTTONPORT – Services for retired Nicholls State professor and department chairman Dr. Lacy Marcotte will be Dec. 6. He died Nov. 22 at age 79.
He was department chair in the Nicholls College of Education.
Survivors include three sisters.

Former sheriff
FALSE RIVER – Services for former sheriff Paul Smith will be Dec. 5. He died Nov. 27 at age 55.
He was Pointe Coupee Parish sheriff from 1195 until 2007. His great-grandfather, a great uncle and aunt had all served as Pointe Coupee sheriffs.
Survivors include his wife Michelle and several children.
Arrangements are by Niland’s.

Noted minor league baseball player
NEW ORLEANS – Services for former professional baseball player Frederick “Little Freddie” Barocco will be Dec. 5. He died Nov. 27 at age 94.
He was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of World War II. He player 10 years of minor league baseball in the Evangeline and Tri-State leagues, with a career batting average of .347. He was a member of the New Orleans Diamond Club Hall of Fame. He retired from Shell Chemical.
Survivors include a daughter,.
Arrangements are by Leitze Agan.