John "Jack" Richard Shortess

John Richard “Jack” Shortess, a 1959 graduate of University High, 1963 graduate of Louisiana State University, and an avid LSU sports fan, died suddenly on November 22, 2024. A retired civil engineer, he designed a number of major bridges in the area.

Born May 12, 1941 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jack moved with his family to Baton Rouge in the spring of 1944, where his father helped to run the Lois Shortess Book Shop on Third Street. While attending University High School Jack helped out in the successor to that store, the Shortess Book Shop in University Shopping Center, and he was later a co-owner of Shortess Paper Books on West Chimes Street.

After earning his degree in civil engineering from LSU in 1963, Jack worked his entire career for HNTB Corporation. In more than 50 years with the company, he participated in or led design teams for numerous major projects including the I-10 bridges over the Atchafalaya Basin, the U.S. 84 Mississippi River Bridge in Natchez, I-49 between Lafayette and Shreveport, the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge, preliminary design for the John James Audubon Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Francisville, and the U.S. 82 Mississippi River bridge between Greenville, Mississippi and Shives, Arkansas.

In addition to cheering on the Fighting Tigers, Jack enjoyed RV camping with his family, woodworking, tending his lush backyard garden and fish ponds, and being a doting Grampy to his beloved grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Melvin Henry Shortess and Helen Taylor Shortess; brothers Melvin Arthur Shortess, Robert Joseph Shortess, and James Andrew Shortess. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Martin Shortess; son John Richard Shortess, Jr. and his wife LucyAnn Shortess of Sterling, Virginia; daughter Renee Louise Shortess and her fiancé Will Edwards; grandchildren Carma Emily Shortess and Wesley Elizabeth Shortess; sisters-in-law Liz Shortess and Mike Shortess; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church Friday, November 29, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., with a funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. and burial to follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you contribute to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge, or another charitable organization of your choosing.