Tammany Civic Leader Capdevielle Dies At 80
Times Picayune 12-7-1996

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Christian Thomas Capdevielle Jr., a retired air traffic controller who
immersed himself in St. Tammany Parish civic organizations for the past two
decades, died Monday in Natchitoches of injuries suffered in a traffic
accident. He was 80.

Mr. Capdevielle was well known as a leading volunteer in fund-raising and
other activities for Alzheimer's disease. He held several positions with the
north shore chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees
and was chairman of the association's Alzheimer's Committee for several years.

"Chris was just a real go-getter. He put his heart and soul into whatever he
did," said longtime friend Audrey Picou of Mandeville. "He was always right
there to help."

Mr. Capdevielle was named Volunteer of the Year for the Covington Food Bank
and worked with the St. Tammany Association for Retarded Citizens.

He was a charter member and past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus
Council No. 9240. He also was active in the American Legion and Veterans of
Foreign Wars.

Mr. Capdevielle was born in New Orleans, where his grandfather, Paul
Capdevielle, was mayor from 1900 to 1904. He graduated from St. Aloysius High
School and Loyola University. He was a Navy pilot in World War II.

After retiring as an air traffic controller at New Orleans International
Airport, he moved to Covington in 1977.

Mr. Capdevielle told fellow members of the Knights of Columbus recently that
his doctor wanted him to cut back on his activities for health reasons.

"But I never saw it," said Al Heron. "He went on doing the same wonderful
things he always did. He was just that way."

Mr. Capdevielle was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in
Mandeville, where he was a eucharistic minister.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Dodd Capdevielle; two daughters, Barbara
C. Matthews and Catherine C. Musso; two sons, Willard Christian and Thomas
Paul Charles Capdevielle; a sister, Alma Hughes; six grandchildren; and a
stepgrandchild.

A Mass will be said Monday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
in Mandeville. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at E.J. Fielding
Funeral Home Inc., 2260 W. 21st Ave., Covington. Burial will be in Hope
Mausoleum in New Orleans.