PARROT TALK

LeBEAU Coy James LeBeau passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2011, in New Orleans, at the age of 41. He is survived by his sweetheart Cerulleal “Featherhead” Saturnine (who affectionately called him “Papi”), his mother Beverly LeBeau, his siblings Susan Seybt, Carl “Bubba” Joseph LeBeau, Jr., and Kathy Anderson, his nieces and nephews, and myriad adoring friends. He was preceded in death by his father Carl Joseph LeBeau, Sr. Coy was born on March 13, 1970 in Baton Rouge. He grew up in Baton Rouge, where he swam for the Magnolia Woods Swim Team and the LSU Swim Team. He studied culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of Louisiana and the Ritz-Escoffier Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise in Paris, France. His career as a chef began in Austin, TX at Zoot Restaurant and Hudson’s on the Bend. Coy owned and operated LeBeau’s, a restaurant in Fairhope, AL, that patrons often described as having had a “living presence.” He later moved to Key West, FL, where he cooked at Louie’s Backyard, Bagatelle, and Twisted Noodle. In Key West he spent many afternoons at the Green Parrot, and swam in the ocean nearly every day. After moving to New Orleans, he took over as chef at The Country Club of the Bywater. Coy had a boundless spirit, was overwhelmingly generous, and truly loved to feed people. A Second Line Jazz Funeral will be held in his honor on Friday, May 13, 2011, assembling in front of The Joint, on Poland Ave., at 6pm and parading through the Bywater to The Country Club. All family and friends of Coy’s are welcome to attend and celebrate his life with us. “Death is one moment, and life is so many of them.” – Tennessee Williams.

See Coy Lebeau’s obituary in The New Orleans Times-Picayune here