Robert (Bobby) Dessommes Coyle

Robert (Bobby) Dessommes Coyle died peacefully at home on January 6. Gathered at his bedside were his children and grandchildren, who came to visit for a Twelfth Night celebration. Bobby always loved a celebration, and his greatest joy was his family—his wife of 50 years, Mary Grant Coyle; his six children, thirteen grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his enormous extended family; and so many lifelong friends. To know Bobby was to be family.

Bobby—known to many as “Atlas”—will be remembered for his tremendous love. He was always smiling, always seeing the best in people, and always quick to help. His sense of humor, his generous, fun-loving, and outgoing nature, and his dance moves will be missed by many.

Bobby was born in 1933 in New Orleans and lived here his entire life. He attended Jesuit High School, where he starred as center for the Blue Jays’ basketball team and excelled in track and field. He graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile, where he started for an outstanding basketball team. They were inducted into the Spring Hill Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Bobby was inducted as an individual hall-of-famer in 1993.

Bobby’s love of sports continued after college and became a lifelong passion. He was an original New Orleans Saints season ticket holder, and he enjoyed mightily those afternoon games in Tulane Stadium with close friends. He loved playing golf and had bragging rights to a few hole-in-one flags from the New Orleans Country Club. His sports prowess included less-widely heralded sports as well; he reigned supreme for decades at backyard ring toss on Jefferson Avenue. Above all, he enjoyed cheering on his kids and grandkids in their own sports pursuits.

Bobby represented Northwestern Mutual for 40 years, and he won numerous awards in the insurance industry. He was proud of serving his many clients and cherished the lifelong friendships he built through his work. He was a member of many carnival organizations and social clubs, including the Louisiana Club, the Neptune Club, the Stratford Club, the Recess Club, the School of Design and the Boston Club.

Bobby is survived by his children, Corinne Coyle Jameson (Bret), Tyler Coyle Erickson (Kent), W. George Coyle III (Darcie), the Rev. Kent Marcoux (Ellen), and Lynn Ellis LeBreton (Alison); his grandchildren, Sarah Bryson Coyle (Marko), Mary Holland Coyle, Dr. Carolyn Flowers Coyle Hesson (Karl), Larkin Claire Jameson (Rocky), Tyler Dessommes Jameson, Robert Michael Erickson, Christian Judd Erickson, Michael Lee Marcoux, Natasha Nicole Marcoux, Alice Kennedy Marcoux, Caledonia Kennedy Marcoux, Kathleen Denis LeBreton, and Nathalie Simes LeBreton; and his great-grandchild, Cecilia Holland Hesson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Grant Coyle; his parents, Charles Goodrich Coyle and Florence Abaunza Coyle Morris; his brother, Charles Goodrich Coyle; his sister, Florence Coyle Treadway; and his son, Harvey Lee Marcoux III (Mila).

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 27, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home. Visitation will start at 10:00 AM, and a service to celebrate Bobby’s life will begin at 12:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lambeth House Foundation (150 Broadway Street, New Orleans, LA 70118) in Bobby’s name.