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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 49
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of William Kearney Christovich
of New Orleans
A RESOLUTION1
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of William Kearney Christovich2
of New Orleans.3
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the4
House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the death of5
William Kearney Christovich of New Orleans on Tuesday, April 10, 2012; and6
WHEREAS, Mr. Christovich was born in New Orleans in 1927 to Alvin Richard7
Christovich and Elyria Kearney Christovich; and8
WHEREAS, after graduating from Jesuit High School, Mr. Christovich served his9
country with valor and fortitude in the United States Navy as a radioman during World War10
II aboard the USS Wingfield DE 194; and11
WHEREAS, in 1948, Mr. Christovich met his lifelong partner and wife of sixty-two12
years, Mary Louise Mossy, with whom he built a loving and dedicated family; and13
WHEREAS, after being discharged from the Navy Reserve, Mr. Christovich attended14
Tulane University and obtained his juris doctorate from Tulane University Law School in15
1950; and16
WHEREAS, in 1950, Mr. Christovich joined the law firm Christovich & Kearney,17
where he became a partner, practicing civil defense trial work, specializing in products18
liability, and litigating maritime disputes and accidents and professional liability contests;19
and 20 HLS 12RS-2818 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Mr. Christovich's success in trials throughout the state of Louisiana in1
federal and state district courts, courts of appeal, and the Louisiana Supreme Court earned2
him a place among the "Best Lawyers in America", a title he held from the inception of these3
rankings until his retirement in 2010; and4
WHEREAS, Mr. Christovich was active in many legal associations; he followed his5
father as past president of the International Association of Defense Counsel, was a fellow6
of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1976, executive board member of the Defense7
Research Institute, member of the board of governors for the Louisiana Bar Association for8
twenty years, and member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Federal Bar9
Association, New Orleans Bar Association, and, for over fifty years, the Maritime10
Association of the United States; and11
WHEREAS, in 1995, Mr. Christovich received the Curtis Boisfontaine Trial12
Advocacy award from the Louisiana Bar Foundation for his long-standing devotion to and13
excellence in trial practice and upholding the standards of ethics and consideration for the14
courts, litigants, and all counsel; and15
WHEREAS, Mr. Christovich bestowed his wisdom upon future lawyers by serving16
as a professor at the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center and Tulane Law17
School, where a professorship honors his name; and18
WHEREAS, in addition to being a legal practitioner and professor, Mr. Christovich19
was also dedicated to historic preservation, serving as a charter member of the Friends of the20
Cabildo, past chairman of the Louisiana State Museum board, and member of the Laussat21
Society of the Historic New Orleans Collection and the Felicity Street Redevelopment22
Association, and having assisted in the establishment of Save Our Cemeteries and the23
Preservation Resource Center in 1974; and24
WHEREAS, Mr. Christovich worked diligently to improve the city of New Orleans25
by preserving its beautiful nineteenth-century structures and pioneering its twentieth century26
lakeshore expansion; he was a member of the Garden District Association for twenty-five27
years and received the Terry Parkensen Award for a house he restored, in addition to serving28
as past president of the Lakeshore Property Owners Association and providing legal29
representation to the lakefront for thirty-five years; and30 HLS 12RS-2818 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, in addition to residential structures, Mr. Christovich was active in the1
restoration of the churches he attended, St. Mary's Assumption and St. Patrick's; and 2
WHEREAS, Mr. Christovich's charitable spirit extended beyond historic preservation3
to patronizing Jesuit High School and Tulane Law School and serving as a board member4
of the Loyola College of Music and Fine Arts and executive board member of the New5
Orleans Opera Association; and6
WHEREAS, when Mr. Christovich had time for leisure, he enjoyed tennis, golf,7
opera, and a weekly lunch with his law school classmates; and8
WHEREAS, William Christovich is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Mossy;9
daughters, Anne Therese "Terry" Gay and Marie Elise "Kit" Grote, and sons, Michael Mossy10
Christovich and Jeffrey James Christovich; grandchildren, Keenan Ellis Grote, William11
Armand Grote, William Kearney Gay, John-Michael Christovich, Eli James Gay, Elyria12
Kearney Eileen Grote, Michelle Mossy Christovich, Amanda Rachel Christovich, Olivia13
Harriss Christovich, and Cameron Wiley Christovich; great-grandchildren, William Tate14
Gay and Kiernan Markwith Grote; and brother, Alvin R. Christovich, Jr.; and15
WHEREAS, with the death of Mr. Christovich, Louisiana has lost one of her finest16
citizens, a gentleman of many gifts and talents who has left an indelible mark on the lives17
of those he touched; and18
WHEREAS, although the death of William Christovich has left a tremendous void19
in his community, his memory shall live forever in the minds and hearts of all who loved20
him and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the22
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the23
death of William Kearney Christovich of New Orleans, does hereby record for posterity his24
outstanding accomplishments and singular contributions, and does hereby extend enduring25
appreciation for the tremendous pride and honor that this wonderful man will forever bring26
to his family, friends, community, state, and nation.27 HLS 12RS-2818 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 49
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted1
to the family of William Kearney Christovich.2
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leger HR No. 49
Expresses condolences upon the death of William Kearney Christovich of New Orleans.