MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 The Boston Globe D5
Obituaries
By Melinda DeSlatte
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATON ROUGE, La. — For-
mer Louisiana governor Kath-
leen Babineaux Blanco, who be-
came the state’s first female
elected governor only to see her
political career derailed by the
devastation of Hurricane Ka-
trina, has died.
After struggling for years
with cancer, Mrs. Blanco died
Sundayinhospicecarein
Lafayette. She was 76.
‘‘Our hearts are broken, but
we are joyful in knowing that
she is rejoicing in her heavenly
reunion with Christ. Please
pray for God’s peace to carry us
through the coming days and
months of sorrow as we mourn
her absence from our lives,’’
Blanco’s family said in a state-
ment released by Governor
John Bel Edwards’s office.
Mrs. Blanco had a rare eye
cancer that she battled success-
fully in 2011, but it later re-
turned and spread to her liver.
Her death came more than a
year after the Democrat who
served in state government of-
fices for more than two decades
announced in December 2017
that she was being treated for
the incurable melanoma. Mrs.
Blanco described being in a
‘‘fight for my own life, one that
will be difficult to win.’’
Mrs. Blanco held Louisiana’s
top elected job from 2004 to- Until her campaign for
governor, she spent much of
her career moving steadily and
quietly through state politics,
rarely creating waves or contro-
versy. Katrina raised her profile
nationally and forever impact-
ed her legacy. The devastating
August 2005 hurricane killed
more than 1,400 people in Lou-
isiana, displaced hundreds of
thousands, and inundated 80
percent of New Orleans.
Historians will continue to
debate whether any governor
could have been prepared for
such a catastrophe, but Mrs.
Blanco shouldered much of the
blame after images of thou-
sands stranded on rooftops and
overpasses were broadcast to
the world, and the government
was slow to respond. Mrs. Blan-
co was criticized as unprepared
and indecisive. The recovery
she guided moved ploddingly.
‘‘While she knew that her
name would forever be linked
with Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, it was her dying wish that
she be remembered for her
faith in God, commitment to
family and love of Louisiana,’’
Mrs. Blanco’s family said.
As the devout Catholic asked
in the letter announcing her
terminal condition for prayers
in her final months, she also
thanked Louisiana residents for
their ‘‘abiding love’’ during her
years of service, and described
the challenges of responding to
Katrina and Hurricane Rita a
month later. She called it an
‘‘honor and blessing’’ to lead
Louisiana at the time.
‘‘Katrina certainly left its
mark and Rita left her mark on
Louisiana. It made us tougher
people though. It made us
stronger,’’ the former governor
said in July.
In the immediate aftermath
of the storms, Mrs. Blanco said
Louisiana’s miseries were wors-
ened by a Republican-led White
House desperate to blame
someone else for its disaster re-
sponse failures. ‘‘I just thought I
could shout more loudly than
the noise around me, but in the
end I couldn’t. There was just
too much pain,’’ she once said.
Edwards, a Democrat in his
first term as governor, called
Mrs. Blanco a mentor to him
and a trailblazer to women. He
ordered flags at state buildings
around Louisiana flown at half-
staff through the funeral,
scheduled for Saturday.
‘‘SheledLouisianathrough
one of our darkest hours, when
hurricanes and the failure of
the federal levee system devas-
tated much of our state,’’ he said
in a statement Sunday. ‘‘I hope
history will remember Gov.
Blanco as a tireless advocate for
Louisiana, who fought fiercely
for our state to rebuild.’’
A former high school busi-
ness education teacher from
the small Cajun village of Co-
teau, Mrs. Blanco launched into
politics as a consultant with her
husband, Raymond, on local re-
districting issues before going
on to serve 24 years in elective
office. Her first, in 1984, was a
seat in the state House. Then
came positions on the state util-
ity regulatory commission and
as lieutenant governor.
Political insiders often dis-
missed Mrs. Blanco as a light-
weight — honest and hard-
working but lacking in sub-
stance. She dropped out of the
governor’s race in 1991, then
stunned many prognosticators
in 2003 by defeating Republi-
can Bobby Jindal. She attacked
Jindal’s record as a former state
health official and made a
memorable debate appearance
when — asked about a defining
moment in her life — she tear-
fully recounted the 1997 death
of her 19-year-old son, Ben, in
an industrial accident.
Jindal succeeded Mrs. Blan-
co as governor after Katrina
stopped her plans to seek a sec-
ond term. ‘‘Kathleen loved Lou-
isiana and served the state for
decades. She faced every strug-
gle, including her last, with
good cheer and a strong will.
She will be missed,’’ Jindal said
on Twitter.
More than a decade after the
storms, views of Mrs. Blanco
are generally more sympathet-
ic. She gets praise for running a
corruption-free government
and championing education.
She helped raise K-12 public
school teacher pay and plowed
hundreds of millions of dollars
into colleges. The nonpartisan
Council for a Better Louisiana
recently praised Mrs. Blanco’s
successful push for a state take-
over of failing public schools in
New Orleans after Katrina, say-
ing that has improved educa-
tion for thousands of students.
Though she stepped out of
the spotlight, Mrs. Blanco never
entirely left Louisiana politics.
She and her husband assisted
Edwards in his campaigns and
became close with him. Ed-
wards called the ex-governor ‘‘a
strong woman of incredible
faith, a deep and abiding love of
Louisiana and all its people.’’
As she knew her end was
near, Mrs. Blanco described
feeling ‘‘blessed by God’’ and
talked of her final months as a
‘‘wonderful time for me, even
though it is a time of a kind of
countdown.’’ She talked of be-
ing surrounded by family and
friends and old political foes
having ‘‘a chance to make up.’’
‘‘My life has been so
charmed by so many events
that were unexpected and chal-
lenged by many events that
were unexpected,’’ she said in
July as a Louisiana highway
was named in her honor. ‘‘But
God puts you where he wants
you to be.”KathleenBlanco;wasLa.
governorduringKatrina
PATRICK DENNIS/THE ADVOCATE VIA AP POOL/FILE
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco arrived in Baton
Rouge with President George Bush during the rescue
efforts after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.We know
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Remembered
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES ON OUR GUEST BOOK AT BOSTON.COM/OBITUARIESDied peacefully on August
15, 2019 at the age of- He was the beloved
husband of the late Carole E. (Cheney)
Sarnie, with whom he shared 56 loving
years of marriage. He is survived by
his cherished family: his son, Richard,
Jr., daughter-in-law, Susan, and their
children, Garrett and Mia; his son,
Robert and his wife, Marilyn, and their
children, Rachel and Jared. He was
predeceased by his parents: Sylvio and
Doris (Maines) Sarnie and his brother,
Ronald Sarnie.
Richard was born in Medford MA.
He graduated from Medford High
SchoolandNorthShoreCommunity
College. He served in the US Army as
a Staff Sgt. during the Korean Conflict
and later served twenty years in the
MA State Police, retiring from the State
PoliceasaStaffSgt.in1980.Hewent
on to work for the Digital Equipment
Corporation as Security Manager for
field services.
He resided in Swampscott, MA for
many years, retiring to Naples, FL, and
then returned to Massachusetts in his
later years.
Richard and his beloved wife,
Carole, shared a unique and loving
bond. Throughout their marriage, they
enjoyed traveling and spending time
with family and friends, particularly
the state troopers and their wives.
Richard’s brotherhood with his fellow
Massachusetts State troopers contin-
ued well beyond his retirement. He
frequently socializedwith his buddies,
and they enjoyed dining, going to
casinos, camping, and swapping stories
of the good old days! Richard was
never so happy as when sharing stories
with old friends. He had a love for the
wilderness, cooking (especially his
famous Italian sauce and meatballs),
holiday family get-togethers, reading
his almanac (pre-Google), andold John
Wayne movies.
In accordance with his wishes,
cremation will take place. Relatives and
friends are invited to attend his Memo-
rial Service, with Military & State Police
Honors for his many years of service to
the Country and the Commonwealth,
on Sunday, August 25 at 3pm, at
Andrews Chapel located in Swampscott
Cemetery, 400 Essex Street, Swamp-
scott, MA 01907. A reception will fol-
low. There are no Visiting Hours.
Memorial donations in memory of
Richard may be made to the charity of
one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are under
the direction of the Edwards Memo-
rial Funeral Home, 44 Congress Street,
MILFORD, MA. Visit http://www.edwardsme-
morialfuneralhome.com for complete
obituary and condolence book.
SARNIE, Richard W. Sr.
Edwards Memorial Funeral Home
Milford MAOf Dedham, August 17, 2019. Beloved
wife of the late Vincenzo Musto. De-
voted mother of Joe Musto and his wife
Jeanne of Westwood and Lorella Musto
of Dedham. Loving grandmother of
Sarah Musto and her husband Alex Gee
of Washington, D.C. and Vincent Musto
and his wife Elizabeth of Raleigh, NC.
Sister of Norina Firmani of Malden,
MariaPetruzzielloofItaly,Alessandro
Musto of Italy, and the late Alessandra
Petruzziello.
Visiting Hours at the George F.
Doherty & Sons Wilson-Cannon
Funeral Home, 456 High St., DED-
HAM, Tuesday, August 20 from 5-8pm.
Funeral from the Funeral Home
Wednesday, August 21 at 9am followed
by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church,
Dedham at 10am. Relatives and friends
kindly invited. Interment in Brookdale
Cemetery, Dedham. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made in Giovanna’s
memory to the American Heart Asso-
ciation, 300 5th Ave., Suite 6, Waltham,
MA 02451-8750. Online guestbook and
directions at gfdoherty.com
MUSTO, Giovanna
George F. Doherty & Sons
Dedham 781-326-0500Of Newton, formerly of Cambridge,
passed away on August 15, 2019,
at the age of 87. Beloved partner of
Judith Walker. Predeceased by his wife
Monica Nugent. Father of Christopher
& Nicholas Nugent. Uncle of James &
Karen Nugent. Dear friend of Jeffrey
Walker, Elizabeth, Rod, Jacob & Joshua
Nangle, Susan & Julian Walker. Mr.
Nugent served in the U.S.C.G. during
the Korean Conflict. He earned a Bach-
elor’s degree from the Newark College
of Engineering and a Master’s degree as
well as a Doctorate from Cornell Uni-
versity. After teaching at the Dartmouth
College School of Business Administra-
tion, he spent twenty-four years at the
Harvard Business School in faculty and
administrative positions including As-
sistant Dean and Director of Computer
Based Systems. Graveside Service on
Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at 1 P.M., in
the Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.
Contributions in his memory may be
made to the Dana Farber Cancer Insti-
tute. http://www.stantonfuneralhome.comNUGENT, Christopher E.
Of Cambridge. August 17, 2019.
Beloved wife of the late Lawrence
O’Rourke. Loving mother of Judith Sul-
livan and her husband Lawrence of Bil-
lerica, Susan O’Rourke of Chelmsford,
Lawrence O’Rourke of Chelmsford, and
Timothy O’Rourke of Cambridge. De-
voted grandmother of Brian Sullivan of
Billerica, Robert Sullivan and his wife
Erica of Billerica, and Amy DeRocco
and her husband John of Hudson, NH.
Great-grandmother of Daniel, Nathan,
Jared, Kaylie, and Lauren. Dorothy was
predeceased by 7 brothers and sisters.
She was the Fernald League for Re-
tarded Children 2 term Past President.
Funeral from the Keefe Funeral Home,
2175 Massachusetts Ave., NORTH
CAMBRIDGE, on Thursday, at 10 AM.
Followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated
in Saint John Church, Cambridge at
11AM. Relatives and friends invited
to attend. Visiting Hours Wednesday,
from 4-8PM. Burial is private. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to the
charity of your choice. For directions or
to send an online message of condo-
lence please visit http://www.keefefuneral-
home.comO’ROURKE, Dorothy A.
(Maguire)Of Burlington, formerly of Saugus, Aug.- Beloved husband of Margaret V.
(George). Loving father of John & his
wife Catherine, Robert & his wife Ge-
nilza, Jean Lux & her husband Norman,
Andrea Vient, and Janice Martineau
& her husband Joseph. Brother of
the late Frances Statuto, Louis Vient,
Claire Vatcher, and Marilyn Boner.
Proud grandfather of Evan, Corinne,
Lucas, Lisa & Laura Vient, Keira,
Nathan, & Emily Lux, Alex, Aimee, &
Michael Gonsalves, and Ethan, Andrew,
Matthew, and Colin Martineau. Also
survived by many nieces and nephews.
AVisitation will be held at the Edward
V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St.,
BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95,
Woburn side), on Tuesday, August 20,
from 4-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan
Funeral Home on Wednesday, Aug. 21,
at9a.m.FollowedbyaMassofChris-
tian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church,
111 Winn St., Burlington, at 10 a.m.
Services will conclude with a burial
in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.
Memorials in Bernard’s name may be
made to Heartbeat Pregnancy Help
Center, PO Box 153 Burlington, MA - For directions obituary & online
guestbook see http://www.stmargaretburling-
ton.org or sullivanfuneralhome.net
VIENT, Bernard G.
Of Watertown, MA, passed away on Au-
gust 17, 2019. Beloved husband of the
late Helen (Hantzis) Patsios. Devoted
father of Charles W. Patsios and his wife
Maria, and Patricia Patsios Lazares and
her husband John. Loving grandfather
of Gus and Eleni Lazares and William,
Andrew and Eleni Patsios. Brother of
Arthur Patsios and his wife Toula, the
late George Patsiokostas and his wife
Helen. Also survived by many nieces,
nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral
Services on Wednesday, August 21,
2019 in the Taxiarchae Greek Orthodox
Church, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown at
10am. Visitation will be held one hour
prior to the Funeral Services from 9-10
am in the church. Burial in Ridgelawn
Cemetery, Watertown. In lieu of flow-
ers, donations in Williams’s memory
may be made to the above named
church. For online guestbook please
visit http://www.faggas.comPATSIOS, William
Faggas FuneralHome
800-222-2586Of Haverhill and formerly of Holliston,
passed away after a brief illness on
Thursday, August 15, 2019. Born in
Cambridge, she was the daughter of
the late Loretta (Lillis) and Henry F.
McLean. Carole was the mother of
the late Sean P. O’Rourke. She leaves
behind 5 siblings as well as many
nieces and nephews. Services will be
held privately with family. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501
St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or
stjude.org Arrangements are under the
care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of
HOLLISTON, http://www.ChesmoreFuneral-
Home.comO’ROURKE, Carole Ann
(McLean)