William Francis Wessel

William Francis Wessel, born December 1, 1936, raised in Miami Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 21st at the age of 85. Bill was the ninth of ten children born to Louis and Esther Wessel, deceased.

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Nicoline Lynn “Cissie” Palermo Wessel; his daughter, Nina Wessel English and her husband, Patrick; his son, William Allen Good II and his wife, Angelle; his granddaughters, Nicoline Good, Julianne Good, Maria English, Colette English and Emeline English; and his grandson, William Good. He is also survived by his dear brother, David Wessel, and numerous nieces and nephews, who adored him.

After graduation from St. Patrick High School in Miami Beach, Bill hitchhiked to New Orleans with his trunk in tow to attend Loyola University. He graduated from Loyola in 1958, and soon after attended Tulane law school, where he befriended fellow law student, Harry Connick, who would be a colleague and lifelong dear friend. Upon graduation from law school in 1963, he hung up his own shingle and proceeded to practice law (to perfection), specializing in litigation for over fifty years. He practiced before state and federal courts, in the areas of civil rights, civil liberties, criminal law, and commercial litigation. During his career, he also served as Connick’s First Assistant District Attorney and as president of the Criminal Courts Bar Association. He prosecuted and convicted the notorious Byron de la Beckwith, the killer of Medgar Evers, for attempted fire-bombing of the New Orleans-based ADL Director’s home. He successfully argued two landmark constitutional cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Glona v. American Guarantee and Connick v. Myers. He was a champion of the underdog, a brilliant litigator, and was energized by a good legal battle. His clients were happy he was their lawyer.

Bill loved New Orleans and called himself a “native by choice.” He and his beloved Cissie beautifully restored a French Quarter creole cottage, where they lived and raised their family. He could often be seen zipping through the streets of the Quarter on his Vespa, briefcase between his feet, headed to court, or with Cissie sitting sidesaddle, headed to the opera. Bill spent memorable summers with friends and family at his home in Castine, Maine. There he presided over an annual July 4th party where guests were encouraged to recite a poem or sing a song to honor America, as well as join in a (competitive) game of bocce.

He was a man of many interests, an avid tennis player who played with the same loyal tennis group at City Park weekday mornings. He sang with the choirs of St. Patrick’s Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe, collaborated with St. Joseph’s Abby to produce a record, and volunteered as a business instructor at Xavier and Loyola Universities. One of his proudest achievements was partnering with Fr. Harry Tompson on the creation and opening of the Good Shepherd School, where he served as Chairman of the Board.

Bill was an amazing father to his daughter, Nina and son, Billy. He filled the house with music--there was always singing and poetry. He loved to host his annual Christmas Eve party where the price of admission was the willingness to sing your part (correctly and on time) of the Twelve Days of Christmas, while lighting a (real) candle on the tree. His laugh was loud and infectious, and those who knew it have missed it these last few years as dementia hid so much of him.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Joseph Wessel, Pam Wessel Potter, Jim Wessel, Bob Wessel, Margaret Wessel Fraser, Rita Wessel Peters, Joan Wessel Campbell, and the Honorable Jack Wessel, and by his son, Louis Pascal Wessel.

Relatives and friends are invited to the funeral mass on March 29, 2022, at 12:00 pm at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 1322 Moss Street, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Interment will be private. For those who would like to honor him with a memorial, please consider a donation to St. Jude Community Center, 400 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70112, www.judeshrine.com.