Louisianans last weekend said a final good-bye to Maurice “Moon” Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor who guided the city through a key period of desegregation during the 1970s. Landrieu died Sept. 5 at the age of 92.
Landrieu was laid to rest last Saturday after a funeral at Holy Name of Jesus Christ Church on the campus of Loyola University New Orleans, where Landrieu earned a business administration degree in 1952 and a law degree in 1954. One of Landrieu’s sons is Mitch Landrieu, a former Louisiana lieutenant governor who currently serves as a White House infrastructure coordinator.
Maurice Landrieu served in positions at the local, state and federal levels. He became secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Jimmy Carter, and he was elected a Louisiana appeals court judge in the 1990s.
“He certainly ranks among our law school’s most famous graduates, and his legacy of leading desegregation of the city government is certainly applauded in a school known for its diversity and inclusion,” Patricia Murret, the associate director of public affairs at Loyola New Orleans, told the Louisiana Record in an email.
Landrieu’s daughter, Madeleine, currently serves as dean of the College of Law.
During his years as New Orleans mayor, Landrieu helped to oversee the development of the Louisiana Superdome and made numerous investments to draw tourism to the city, including upgrades to the historic French Quarter and Jackson Square.
Landrieu frequently said that his time attending Loyola University helped to open his eyes to injustice and led him to commit his life to community service.
“Loyola is grateful to have been a part of former Mayor Landrieu’s life,” the interim Loyola president, the Rev. Justin Daffron, said in a prepared statement. “His legacy is a great teacher for us all to work for the social change that will create a more just world for all.”