Erston Henry Reisch, Jr.

Erston H. Reisch, Jr. passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2024, with his loving family at his side, after a brief illness. Son of Erston Reisch, Sr. and Mary Irene Voorhies Reisch, born on October 31, 1939. He lived in Lakeview and moved to Mandeville in 1997.

A graduate of Fortier High School, he then graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Business Administration in 1964. He was captain of the Tulane Sailing Team.

He served in the U.S. Coast Guard as an Engineman, at Cape May, NJ, North Chicago, IL, and New Canal Station in New Orleans.

While in college he worked for Nebel Towing, but saw opportunity and started Valve Actuators Company, working in the oil and gas service industry. VAC became one of the premier actuation and instrumentation companies, and was known worldwide. Projects included onshore and offshore oil and gas projects, sulfur barges, and solving a leak problem for NASA on the space shuttle.

He was active in the Instrument Society of America and served as President of the New Orleans Section. He was recognized as a “Senior Fellow” in 1990.

Erston was a competitive and accomplished sailor. He was a member of the Southern Yacht Club for over 64 years, and a member of Pontchartrain Y C and Bay Waveland Y C.

In the 1990s, Erston joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He served as Flotilla Commander in 2002. He worked for the Marine Safety Office, dockwalking, patrolling the levees from Venice to Baton Rouge, Regional Exam Center, and volunteering in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina.

Erston helped to build the LCVP PA-33-21, which is on display at the World War II Museum.

He was a lifelong supporter of Tulane athletics, a member of Elmwood Business Association, and several carnival clubs.

Erston never met a stranger and always had a story to tell. He enjoyed spending time with family and hosting everyone for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He took his role as patriarch of the Reisch family, and cared for his parents in their later years. A lifelong tinkerer, he enjoyed fixing things, and was the ultimate handyman. He especially liked working on Corvettes and owned a number of them. He never missed an opportunity to help a family member or friend in need or to fix or repair or build something – from changing a car engine to building a shed.

He was a man of the Catholic faith, he loved his church and his Savior. He was a Man of Manresa for over 35 years. He will be greatly missed, but he leaves a legacy which inspires all who knew him.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Karen Furlow Reisch, who was his constant companion, care giver, best friend and first mate. His son Erston Reisch III, his daughter Rebecca Reisch, and grandchildren Kellen, Connor, Claire and Reagan, all of Tacoma, WA. Also survived by his sister, Irene Reisch Grundy (Edwin M., Jr.), in-laws Gay Reisch, Carol Furlow (late Ronald), Gary Furlow (Sue Harvey), Bruce Furlow (Sheryl), Fay Dedeaux (Kenneth), and many cousins, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents Jeffery Voorhies Reisch, Sr., sister Mary Louise Reisch, and godfather Rev. Mgsr. Milton L. Reisch, Jr.

Visitation will be held in Erston Reisch's honor on Friday January 19, beginning at 11 A.M., with a funeral mass at 1 P.M., at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Gulf Yachting Association Foundation, or the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.