Richard Landry Obituary

Dr. Richard Mark Landry, MD, age 75, passed away on October 30, 2013. He is survived by his beloved wife of twenty six years, Christina Kay Landry of Woodstock, Georgia with whom he shared two children. Their daughter, Christina Margaret Gumprecht and husband attorney Michael Gumprecht and their children, granddaughters Evie Rose Gumprecht, Minnie Amelia Gumprecht and Gigi Belle Gumprecht reside in Woodstock, Georgia. Their son, attorney Cameron Nicholas Landry resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alison Landry Silvestry and husband Dr. Scott Silvestry of St. Louis, Missouri and Mark Phillip Landry of Houma, Louisiana are his children from a previous marriage to Maureen Hall Landry. Grandchildren Richard Samuel Silvestry, Bennett Alexander Silvestry and Courtney Anne Landry, Madilyn Elizabeth Landry and Patrick Wells-Landry are their children, respectively. A step granddaughter, Meghan Stevens of Houma, Louisiana mourns his loss as well. His younger brother, Winston Michael Landry and wife Cheryl Patrick Landry as well as two nieces, Laura Landry Turnley and Caroline Scott Landry are all of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Born May 11, 1938 in Baton Rouge, LA at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital to Rose Mary Landry née Boudreaux and Oscar Philip Landry. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Richard first attended Kindergarten through 5th grade at St. Anthony's School where he was taught by nuns and began Catholic High School in 6th grade until graduating in 1956.

He first attended LSU on the Baton Rouge campus in 1956, later majoring in Physics. He also studied at Stanford in Palo Alto, California and enrolled at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1959. As a senior in medical school at LSU he received the Urban Maes Award for Surgery, awarded to the one senior student who in the opinion of the staff of the Department of Surgery showed the greatest promise for future accomplishment in the field of clinical surgery. At the presentation it was noted he had the highest grades in neuroanatomy, neuroembryology, neurology and neurosurgery. He was scheduled to start a neurosurgery residency at Albert Einstein Hospital in NYC under the guidance of Dr. Leo Davidoff, who was one of the Cushing trained Neurosurgeons of the time, but instead he decided to pursue a career in Orthopaedic Surgery. Graduating Doctor of Medicine in 1963, he then served a straight surgical internship at Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City from 1963 to 1964.

Next, he served as a medical officer in the United States Navy aboard the USS Bexar and USS Skagit in the Pacific from 1964-1965 with visits to Hawaii and Japan, including the transport of Marines to Vietnam via Okinawa. After the Western Pacific cruise he was a medical officer at the 11th Naval District Headquarters in San Diego, CA at the foot of Broadway.

In 1966 he began an Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University of California in San Francisco. During this residency program he served at several affiliated hospitals, including Shriner's Hospital in Honolulu and Queen's Hospital in Honolulu. He completed a hand surgery fellowship at Princess Margaret Rose Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 1970 he completed his training and began practicing Orthopaedic Surgery in Houma, LA at the Houma Medical and Surgical Clinic. Later in 1972, he and Dr. Dexter Gary founded the "Landry & Gary Houma Orthopaedic Clinic." He practiced general orthopedics but had a special interest in Hand Surgery. He retired from Houma Orthopaedic in 1998.

He was a member of the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales. After family and patients he enjoyed the outdoors, particularly fishing and the camaraderie of friends. He was a co-founder of South Louisiana Bank and served on the board of directors until 1987. He also served as Chief of Surgery at Terrebonne General Hospital, and as Chief of Staff at that hospital.

He toured the United States and Canada after selection as a Travelling Fellow for the American Orthopaedic Society, and multiple papers concerning studies in Orthopaedic trials were published during his career. He belonged to numerous organizations, including the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart Nu Sigma Nu, the Medical Honor Society, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Louisiana State Medical Society and the Terrebonne Medical Society.

In his later years, Richard began an abiding interest in genealogy, approaching it as he did all things, painstakingly and with dedication. This enthusiasm led him to chronicle the previous achievements and more for his loved ones as well as document his place in time. He wrote: "Practicing medicine in Terrebonne Parish has been a wonderful experience. To all who have been supportive I say thank you, and to those I may have offended please forgive me."

A memorial service was held on November 4, 2013 at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma, Louisiana. His favorite verse was Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O man, what is good, And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" He placed his faith in Jesus Christ and both loved and was loved greatly in return. He will be tremendously missed by all who loved him for his kindness, humility and generosity.