Robert B. Acomb, Jr.

Robert Bailey Acomb, Jr., passed away peacefully at home on June 12, 2021 at the age of 90. He is survived by his children Robert Bailey Acomb, III (Kay), Dwight LeBlanc Acomb (Kirsten), Greta Marie Acomb, William Ryan Acomb (Judy) and John Douglas Acomb, all of New Orleans. He was the loving grandfather of Louise Acomb Smallpage (Jack), Margaret Acomb, Kathleen Acomb, Caroline Acomb, Catherine Acomb, Elizabeth Acomb Crosby (Billy), Joseph Ryan Acomb and Mary Acomb, and great grandfather to Dottie Smallpage, Jack Smallpage, Jr., and Jane Smallpage. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty years Greta LeBlanc Acomb, and his parents Robert Bailey Acomb, Sr., and Catherine “Kathleen” Ryan Acomb. His grandchildren will remember him for his love of any flavor ice cream, always well stocked in the freezer, and Sunday dinners at home cooked by Greta.

A lifelong native of New Orleans, Robert, affectionately known as Bob, graduated from Jesuit High School, Tulane University with a business degree in 1951 and Tulane University School of Law in 1953, where he was a member of the Board of Editors, Tulane Law Review, Order of the Coif, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He was a leading national authority on maritime law and litigation. He spent his entire legal career at Jones Walker, where he was a partner for over sixty years, and past member of the management committee and the first Maritime Group Leader. He was an active member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, American Bar Association, Louisiana Bar Association and New Orleans Bar Association. He was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers and Chairman of the Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada. In 1996, he was recognized as the New Orleans Bar Association Distinguished Maritime Lawyer. In 2002, he received the New Orleans Bar Association President’s Award and the Louisiana Bar Foundation Curtis R. Boisfontaine Trial Advocacy Award. He was on the Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin Editorial Board. In addition to publishing many legal writings, he authored two case books on Admiralty law. Robert served many years on the board of Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society Program (ALAS), the country’s largest lawyer-owned mutual insurer. Robert was active in the Navy League of the United States, serving on the Board and as State President. He was elected Commander of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States, Louisiana Commandery.

An avid supporter of Tulane University and Tulane School of Law, Robert was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law for over three decades and developed the course on maritime personal injury and death. He was a founding member of the Tulane Admiralty Law Institute and was the Chairman Emeritus. A motivating force in establishing the Tulane Maritime Law Journal, he was the original faculty advisor and his dedication has been recognized by the bestowing of the annual “Robert Acomb Award For Outstanding Comment”. He was a long time member of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Robert was past President of the Tulane Alumni Association, President of the Tulane Emeritus Club and member of the Tulane University Board of Administrators. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992 and inducted into the Tulane School of Law Hall of Fame in 2014. Some of his greatest professional joys were mentoring younger lawyers and seeing the success of his students in the practice of law.

Robert was a devout Catholic. He was a parishioner of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, recipient of the Order of St. Louis by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, past Chairman of the Archbishop’s Community Appeal in 1993, and Lieutenant of the Southeastern Lieutenancy of the Knight Grand Cross Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Pope John Paul, II, named Robert a Knight of St. Gregory the Great. He was past Chairman and board member of the Christian Brothers Foundation and Christian Brothers Retirement Trust, and board member of the Bethlehem University Foundation.

Robert was a member of the New Orleans Country Club, the Boston Club, the Pickwick Club, and the Stratford Club, as well as several Carnival organizations. The family is grateful for all of his devoted caregivers, especially Mickey Edwards and Tina Jackson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to the ‘Admiralty Law Scholarship in honor of Robert B. Acomb Jr.’ at http://giving.tulane.edu/acomb or by check sent to Tulane University P.O. Box 61075 New Orleans, LA 70161-9986, or to the Christian Brothers Foundation, 8 Friederichs Drive, New Orleans, 70124. Services will be private.