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Report: Sheriff won't seek re-election

Tue, 10/18/2022 - 1:05pm

Sheriff Blaise Smith, who has been battling an undisclosed illness since March, says he will not run for re-election when his term expires next year, according to a post on his campaign Facebook page.

After a career of more than 40 years in law enforcement, Smith was elected sheriff in 2018 to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Mark Hebert, who resigned for personal reasons. Smith finished behind Scott Anslum, Hebert's top deputy, in the 2018 primary. But in the runoff, Smith beat Anslum 52%-48%.

Running for a full term in his own right in 2019, Smith was elected with 55% of the primary vote.

Smith had resigned from the Sheriff's Office in 1994 as a chief inspector and also served as chief of the Chitimacha Tribal Police Department.

On March 25, a Sheriff's Office statement said Smith was "suffering from an as-yet-undetermined illness and is seeking in-patient medical evaluation and treatment at a medical facility at the present time. ..

"The Administrative staff is in contact with Sheriff Smith and his family on a regular basis to stay up to date with his status and to advise and consult with the Sheriff on office matters."

From the post on his campaign Facebook page:

"It is with a heavy heart that I must formally announce that I will not seek re-election for another term as your Sheriff. This decision was not an easy one, but necessary for me to focus on my current health issues.
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"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of the parish as your elected Sheriff. I hope that when I leave the office, I will have left a lasting mark on the department and its people, signifying my strong beliefs in community service, communication, and teamwork. Working with such an amazing group of people is an honor, and I owe much of my success to them.
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"Moving forward, I know the department is in excellent and capable hands. Should I be absent for any health-related issues, Chief Gary Driskell has and will continue to run all day-to-day activities for the department. Chief Driskell has over thirty years in law enforcement and has proven himself highly capable to continue leading the department with compassion and integrity, as he has done so for the last several months.
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"Through my fifty years in law enforcement, I have made memories and friendships that will never tarnish. I pray that everyone is blessed to have such a career as mine."
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Morgan City police radio logs for Oct. 12-14

Mon, 10/17/2022 - 4:26pm

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
6:57 a.m. 300 block of Barrow Street; 911 hang up.
8:13 a.m. David Drive; Lost and found.
8:25 a.m. 400 block of Levee Road; Welfare concern.
8:39 a.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Animal complaint.
9:04 a.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Medical.
9:27 a.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
10:22 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
11:15 a.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Arrest.
11:38 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Traffic incident.
11:47 a.m. 600 block of Fourth Street; Medical.
11:55 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
12:01 p.m. 800 block of Fig Street; Medical.
1:03 p.m. 1900 block of Victor II Boulevard; Traffic incident.
1:33 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Crash.
2:06 p.m. Federal Avenue and Everett Street; Crash.
2:51 p.m. La. 182 East; Stalled vehicle.
2:53 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Traffic incident.
4:08 p.m. 700 block of Terrebonne Street; Juvenile complaint.
4:11 p.m. 2100 block of Sixth Street; Animal complaint.
4:12 p.m. Allison Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard; Traffic incident.
4:20 p.m. 300 block of Barrow Street; 911 hang up.
4:27 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Medical.
5:11 p.m. 300 block of Adams Street; Animal complaint.
5:16 p.m. Second Street and Brashear Avenue; Crash.
5:42 p.m. 1000 block of Clothilde Street; Medical.
Thursday, Oct. 13
5:58 a.m. 1400 block of Mayon Street; Medical.
6:54 a.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
7:39 a.m. Glenwood Street; Animal complaint.
8:11 a.m. 600 block of Aucoin Street; Animal complaint.
8:45 a.m. 2000 block of Sixth Street; Animal complaint.
8:46 a.m. 200 block of Third Street; Animal complaint.
9:09 a.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Arrest.
9:18 a.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Disturbance.
9:51 a.m. U.S. 90 East Bound; Complaint.
10:06 a.m. 1800 block of Maple Street; Simple assault.
10:12 a.m. Terrebonne Jail; Arrest.
10:23 a.m. 800 block of Sacred Heart Drive; Complaint.
11:38 a.m. 1100 block of Walnut Drive; Animal complaint.
12:35 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
12:43 p.m. 900 block of David Drive; Suspicious person.
1:14 p.m. Area of On-stead Street and Federal Avenue; Complaint.
1:44 p.m. U.S. 90 Westbound; Animal complaint.
2:32 p.m. 600 block of Kentucky Street; Theft.
3:08 p.m. Area of Fig and Cedar streets; Stalled vehicle.
3:38 p.m. 400 block of Leona Street; Welfare check.
3:52 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Animal complaint.
5:22 p.m. Brashear Avenue/Second Street; Disturbance.
5:31 p.m. Cy-press/Acorn streets; Suspicious person.
6:17 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
8:43 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
9:46 p.m. 1000 block of Grace Street; Disturbance.
10:03 p.m. 900 block of Garden Street; Disturbance.
10:50 p.m. 3200 block of Vine Drive; Alarm.
Friday, Oct. 14
7:01 a.m. 1500 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
7:07 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Theft.
8:10 a.m. La. 70; Ani-mal complaint.
8:14 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Welfare check.
8:53 a.m. 3000 block of Catherine Street; Animal complaint.
9:18 a.m. 900 block of Florence Street; Complaint.
9:35 a.m. 1900 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
9:51 a.m. 3000 block of Francis Street; Complaint.
10:05 a.m. Union Street; Frequent patrol.
10:07 a.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Complaint.
10:11 a.m. 500 block of Garber Street; Complaint.
10:15 a.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Complaint.
10:39 a.m. 1500 block of Bernice Street; Animal complaint.
10:46 a.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
12 p.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Animal complaint.
12:11 p.m. 1000 block of Seventh Street; Complaint.
12:40 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Traffic complaint.
1:53 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Lost property.
2:27 p.m. 1000 block of Poplar Street; Stand by.
2:34 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Complaint.
2:46 p.m. 900 block of Spruce Street; Medical.
3 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Fight.
3:30 p.m. U.S. 90 West/Brashear Avenue; Stalled vehicle.
4:55 p.m. U.S. 90 West just over water; Accident.
5:36 p.m. U.S. 90 East over water; Complaint.
5:43 p.m. 700 block of Terrebonne Street; Complaint.
6:22 p.m. 1000 block of Marguerite Street; Narcotics violation.
7:04 p.m. 500 block of Eighth Street; Medical emergency.
7:34 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Narcotics violation.
9:04 p.m. 500 block of Freret Street; Medical emergency.
9:16 p.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Narcotics violation.
9:34 p.m. 2000 block of La. 70; Patrol request.
11:09 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
11:18 p.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Loud music.
1:21 a.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Assistance.
1:36 a.m. 300 block of Chennault Street St; Juvenile problem.
2:06 a.m. Basketball Court; Suspicious person.
2:23 a.m. 1000 block of Marguerite Street; Suspicious person.
3:21 a.m. 800 block of Everett Street; Open door.

Agencies report eight drug arrests over the weekend

Mon, 10/17/2022 - 3:46pm

Staff Report

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

St. Mary law enforcement agencies made eight arrests on drug charges over the weekend, including possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. Six of those arrests were in Morgan City.

St. Mary deputies made two arrests on domestic abuse charges.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 116 calls for service over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

—Jamerie Tyheim Gash, 19, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. Friday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Donna Sherrie Reed, 51, Saturn Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:50 p.m. Friday on a charge of introduction of contraband into a penal facility and possession of buprenorphine.

—Brandon Robert Blanchard, 27, Karen Drive, Lockport, was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Jaelyn Michelle Lodrigue, 21, Beham Court, Thibodaux, was arrested at 4:45 a.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of marijuana.

—David M. Mire, 46, Velma Court, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:39 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, improper lighting and failure to appear for arraignment (16th Judicial District Court).

—Dedrick J. Gant Sr., 37, Live Oak Street, Patterson, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. Friday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

—Brock Matthew Menard, 36, Patton Street, Morgan City, was arrested on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

—Patrick E. Arabie, 53, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Saturday on charges of stalking, violation of protective orders and video voyeurism.

—Crystal Thompson, 44, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:43 p.m. Sunday on a charge of simple battery.

—Destiny James Landry, 47, Nini Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:39 a.m. Monday on charges of resisting an officer, improper lighting and failure to appear for a contempt hearing (16th Judicial District Court).

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 95 complaints and made these arrests:

—Chad Michael Adams, 39, Morgan City, L, was arrested at 3:07 p.m. Thursday on two warrants alleging forgery and two counts of theft.
Bail has not been set.

—Brennan Michael Tatum, 25, Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Friday on a charge of introduction of contraband into a penal institution. Tatum continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

—Hailey Mire, 20, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Saturday on charges of domestic abuse (child endangerment law). Bail has not been set.

—John Charles Lacoste III, 38, Franklin, was arrested at 6:37 p.m. Sunday on three warrants alleging criminal neglect of family, no seat belt, and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled. Bail was set at $28,000.

—Valarie Amburgey, 39, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:06 p.m. on a charge of domestic abuse (child endangerment law). Bail has not been set.

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported this arrest:

—Daijuan Deontry Stewart, 28, Railroad Avenue, Baldwin, was arrested at 8:53 p.m. Sunday on charges of failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana (14 grams or less) and possession of drug paraphernalia, an a warrant alleging obstruction of public highways, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driver under suspension. Stewart was booked at the Patterson Police Department.

Berwick

Police Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

—Juvenile female, 14, was arrested at 7:58 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, violation of controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone).

About 7:39 a.m. Friday, the Berwick Police Department was contacted by a local school in reference to finding marijuana on a student. Officers responded and located the juvenile and marijuana.

The school where the juvenile possessed the marijuana is a posted drug-free zone.

The juvenile was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where she was booked. Following the booking process, the juvenile was released to a guardian pending a court hearing.

—Kevin Hills, 62, Silver Creek Drive, Gray was arrested at 4:39 p.m. Friday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana (over 14 grams), possession on of drug paraphernalia and speeding (74 mph in a 55 mph zone).

About 4:09 p.m. Friday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle for speeding 74 mph in a 55 mph zone. Officers made contact with the driver, Hill, and detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted at which time officers located marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia inside.

While speaking with Hill, it was learned that the marijuana was destined to be sold. Hill was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked. No bond has been set at this time.

—Cedric Gant, 25, Grace Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:38 p.m. Friday on warrants alleging aggravated flight from an officer, speeding 106 mph in a 55 mph zone, switched license plate, resisting an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension.

About 8:38 p.m. Friday, officers with the Berwick Police Department traveled to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and located Gant, who had active warrants through the Berwick Police Department. Gant was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked on the above charges.

The warrants stem from an incident in July where officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding 106 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The driver fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed and then fled on foot. A search of the vehicle was done and items of drug paraphernalia were located inside and it was learned that the license plate on the vehicle was for another vehicle. Through investigation it was learned that Gant was the driver of the vehicle and warrants were issued for his arrest.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 20 complaints over the past weekend and made these arrests:

—Tylon Holland, 22, Baring Boulevard, Sparks, Nevada, was arrested at 6:20 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace (language). Holland was booked, processed and released on a $1,000 bond.

—Ashlee Miller, 42, Pine Street, Franklin, was arrested at 2:33 a.m. Monday on a charge of theft. Miller was booked, processed and held on a $1,500 bond.

Serving the public since 1872

Sat, 10/15/2022 - 3:05pm

The Morgan City Fire Department celebrated its 150th anniversary Saturday with a fire prevention open house and celebration at the station on Victor II Boulevard. About 60 children turned out for the open house. Later, members of the Fire Department posed on the Enola E., the truck that the department acquired in 1922 and has recently been restored.

The Review/Bill Decker

Central Catholic crowns homecoming queen

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 9:13pm

Emily Lipari was crowned homecoming queen at Friday's Central Catholic High homecoming game with Berwick. She was crowned by 2021 queen Jena Sonnier. The newly crowned queen was escorted by her parents, Jeff and Tabby Lipari of Patterson.

The Review/Bill Decker

Seven arrests include assault, battery charges

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 11:10am

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Local agencies reported making seven arrests Thursday, including arrests on battery and assault charges.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 28 complaints and made these arrests:

—Chad Michael Adams, 39, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:07 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Bail has not been set.

—Lionel L. Granger III, 54, Patterson, was arrested at 9:52 p.m. Thursday on charges of domestic abuse battery by strangulation, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and obscenity. Bail has not been set.

—Cedric Gant, 25, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:22 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging three counts of violation of protective orders. Gant continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 34 calls for service in the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

—Melissa Mae McCleery, 45, Chimney Rock Drive, Plano, Texas, was arrested at 8:44 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Caleb Ra’shawn Givens, 21, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:12 a.m. Thursday on three counts of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to six complaints in the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

—Chris Dupas, 53, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:28 p.m. Thursday on a charge of aggravated assault. Dupas was booked, processed, and released on a $1,500 bond.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

—Deonte D. Harris, 25, Bayou Black Drive, Gibson, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding 84 mph in a 70 mph zone and failure to drive on right side of roadway.

The arrest followed a traffic stop on U.S. 90 near Amelia.

A uniformed patrol deputy on an I.C.E. detail assignment observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of that vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Harris and conducted an interview. At the conclusion of that interview, the deputy believed that additional investigation was warranted.

The deputy requested a K-9 unit at the location of the stop. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the suspect vehicle and alerted positive to the presence of illegal controlled dangerous substances. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of suspected marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Harris was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

Community, emergency services come together for Night Out in Bayou Vista

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 10:32am

BBAYOU VISTA – Law enforcement officers, firefighters and the people they serve got together Wednesday for a National Night Out event at the Bayou Vista Community Center.

Many of those people were children who got to meet police officers and firefighters and see the equipment they use.

There were lots of “ooohs” and “ahhhs,” not least for the Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department truck that lifted a firefighter high above the Community Center parking lot.

Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eddie Gay, a supervisor of detectives, was at a table to talk about his other job: being a member of the office’s Dive Team. He demonstrated underwater breathing gear, the radio divers use to communicate with the surface and a diving helmet, all for the passing kids.

“The little ones are like, ‘eh,’” Gay said. “The ones over 10 and the young teens know more about what it is.

“You tell them you can breathe underwater, and they perk up.”

Detective Lt. Bart Lange and Lt. Gary Keller also talked about another maritime pursuit. They are the Sheriff’s Office Marine Section.

They talked about their work from a trailered 26-foot boat with a 350-horsepower outboard engine.

The work, Lange said, is often about helping boaters.

“People get lost,” he said. “They run out of gas. They get stuck in the tides. … It’ll sneak up on you.”

The job is “marine law enforcement and search and rescue,” Lange said. “It’s a good job.”

Deputy Noah Fryou was among the Sheriff’s Office personnel showing the office’s MRAP. It’s a military vehicle designed to carry troops and to offer protection against land mines.

The vehicle’s construction makes it handy for driving through high water.

The Morgan City High fishing team was a big part of the night’s fun. The team ran a game in which kids could cast for plastic fish set down on the parking lot and try to bring them in.

Coach Glenn Blanco said that the young anglers who caught the most fish during the playing of a 4-minute song got a prize. Then the other fishermen got a prize, too.

Ready for the big game

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 10:21am

The Review/Bill Decker
Cheers and pom poms went up during a recent Central Catholic football game. On Friday, the Eagles will host 6-0 Berwick for their homecoming game. Patterson, 4-2, also has an important game at the home of district rival St. James. Morgan City High will look for its second win of the season at district foe South Lafourche.

Parish Council focuses on possible charter changes

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 10:18am

Staff Report

The St. Mary Parish Council continues to take a hard look at the home-rule charter, considering changes in the way the government operates.

That was the subject of a special meeting Wednesday in Franklin. The only action taken was referring some of the ideas under consideration to legal counsel to see if they comply with state law.

Some of the ideas, many from a list of recommendations by a charter committee in 2020, are relatively minor and are put forward to bring the 39-year-old charter into line with state laws that have changed.

Some are more far-reaching.

One charter amendment is already headed for the ballot in the spring. Proposed by Councilman J Ina of Franklin, it would open the council chairmanship and vice chairmanship to any council member.

Currently, the charter says the council leadership positions must be filled only by members elected from the council’s at-large districts.

Members representing those districts are elected parishwide, but each represents a geographic district — 9 in the west, 10 in the central parish and 11 in the east.

Ina has put forward the idea of turning 9, 10 and 11 into “super districts” from which members are elected rather than running throughout the parish.

The western district, 9, would have an African American majority, addressing what Ina sees as a racial imbalance. The parish has a population that is about one-third Black, but Ina and the Rev. Craig Matthews of Jeanerette are the only Blacks on the 11-member council.

Parish President David Hanagriff said increasing minority representation would be good. But “you have to look beyond that,” he said.

The fundamental issue is fairness, Hanagriff said. He talked about a hypothetical race in which a candidate running in one of the at-large districts could get not a single vote in that district and still win the right to represent it because of votes from across the parish.

“How is that fair?” Hanagriff said. “It’s completely not fair.”

Ina has put forward another idea last month: raising the parish president’s salary from $12,000 a year, the level set in the charter in 1983,, to the average of the mayoral salaries in the parish’s municipalities. Currently, Ina said, that’s nearly $50,000.

The point is to push the parish closer to having a full-time president to devote more time to his parish duties. One of the duties discussed last month was economic development.

Councilman James Bennett of Morgan City wondered how that would help when the parish already has a full-time economic development director in Evan Boudreaux.

Hanagriff said he already accompanies Boudreaux to talk to prospective businesses.

“Economic development should be done by an individual who is trained and has experience in economic development,” Hanagriff said. “It shouldn’t be in the hands of an elected official.”

The council should look at the raise as a cost-of-living adjustment after nearly four decades, said Hanagriff, who won’t benefit from any raise because he’s term-limited.

“Fifty-thousand is not a full-time salary for a full-time parish president,” he said.

Also under consideration after the committee recommendations: fine- tuning the chief administrative officer’s power to hire and fire personnel; prohibiting an office-holder whom voters have recalled from running for office again; giving the parish president a line-item veto to use on the annual budget; and removing the one-year waiting period before a construction project or the means of financing a construction project that has been rejected by voters can appear on the ballot again.

LEO LUKE GRIZZAFFI SR.

Fri, 10/14/2022 - 10:14am

Leo Luke Grizzaffi Sr., 89, a resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Leo was born December 1, 1932, in Morgan City, the eldest child of Frank Peter Grizzaffi Sr. and Alice Randall Grizzaffi.

Leo was a Korean War Veteran who proudly served in the U.S. Navy onboard the USS Grasp. He loved his country, enjoyed
discussing his conservative political views, and standing up for what he believed in. Leo graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, now Central Catholic, where he was influential in starting the school’s first football team and was inducted into the CCHS Hall of Fame.

Leo was a member of the Morgan City Wharf Committee, Sons of the American Revolution, the Louisiana Bluebird Society, the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, the Holy Name Society, and the NRA. He was an entrepreneur and owned several companies throughout his lifetime, notably Leo’s Firestone. He had many interests and hobbies which included hunting, fishing, gardening, cooking, beekeeping, and genealogy. Leo also enjoyed piloting a small plane. He also medaled in the Louisiana Senior Olympics as a sprinter.

Leo was an intelligent and loving man with a thirst for knowledge, and enjoyed passing it on to others. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his “Honey”, best friend, love of his life and wife of 67 years, Marie “Tena” Rousso Grizzaffi of Morgan City; six children, Donna Grizzaffi Burke (Myron) of Morgan City, Melanie Grizzaffi O’Neil (Steve) of Gulf Shores, AL, Leo Grizzaffi Jr. (Leigh) of Morgan City, Julie Grizzaffi Walker of Lafayette, Bruce Grizzaffi (Jackie) of Baton Rouge, Gregory Grizzaffi (Brigitte) of Baton Rouge; one sister, Belva Grizzaffi Myers (J.D.) of Morgan City; 13 grandchildren, Jacques “Jake” Olivier (Michelle), Matthew Olivier, Abby Burke, Emily Burke, Benjamin Olivier, Leo “Luca” Grizzaffi, Elizabeth Walker, Salvatore Grizzaffi (Marissa), Mariel Walker, Michael Grizzaffi, Grant Grizzaffi, Ava Grizzaffi, and Lucy Grizzaffi; two step-grandchildren, Roderick and Lauren Burke; three great-grandchildren, Clara and Audrey Olivier, Evelyn Grizzaffi. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Janice Grizzaffi and Earline Grizzaffi, and brother-in-law Matthew Rousso (Janet).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alice Grizzaffi; four siblings, Abbie Grizzaffi, Frank Grizzaffi Jr., Ronald Grizzaffi Sr. and Alice Grizzaffi Vial (David “Jerry”).

The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Cefalu and Dr. Valdez, along with Leo’s caregivers.

Memorial gifts can be given to Central Catholic School in Morgan City.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 14, 2022, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Very Reverend Jay L. Baker, J.C.L. officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, October 14, 2022 at Holy Cross Church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Following Mass, Leo will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum, where military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Navy and the East St. Mary Veteran’s Squad.