By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Longtime St. John the Baptist Parish Police Juror and School Board member Dowie Gendron passed away Sunday at age 83.

According to family members, the 27-year veteran of public office in St. John Parish was devoted to his community and worked to improve the parish for his eight children.

“He was incredibly active for his constituents,” said Iris Terrio, Gendron’s daughter. “He loved the community and was always excited to serve.”

Gendron spent eight years on the Police Jury, the parish’s governing body prior to installation of the parish council, from 1972 to 1976 and from 1980 to 1984.

Terrio said Gendron was one of the architects who helped draft the parish’s Home Rule Charter, which led to the parish president and council system.

Also during his time on the Police Jury, Terrio said Gendron was among jurors who supported creation of the St. John Parish Andouille Festival.

After an unsuccessful run for parish president in 1983, Gendron switched gears and moved to the St. John School Board. He was first elected in 1989 and spent nearly 19 years in office.

“Most of his time there was spent on the insurance committee,” Terrio said. “He was very frugal and very thrifty. He was a true advocate for his constituents.”

Gendron resigned from the School Board in 2008 after having heart bypass surgery. Terrio said he rarely missed a meeting and was always very vocal.

Outside of the public service realm, Terrio said Gendron was an astute businessman who owned his own home-based electronic and appliance repair business.

He was a member of the VFW and also a LaPlace volunteer fireman.

In 1993, Gendron became an author when he penned the 38-page book “The Game of Craps Analyzed & Simplified.” Terrio said her father had loved playing poker and craps, but he never considered it gambling.

“He would go out and spend hours at the casino playing craps,” Terrio said. “He always called it his research. It was a good excuse.”

Gendron is survived by his two sons, Dowie Gendron II and David Gendron, six daughters, Sandra Ratcliff, Iris Terrio, Nancy Holmes, Geraldine Cox, Glenda Arcuri and Sundy Fitch, 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.