2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 74
BY SENATORS MURRAY, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY,
PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Emilo Joseph "Monk" Dupre'.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the Senate of the
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the passing of Emilo Joseph "Monk" Dupre' of the 7th
Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, on his seventieth birthday, April 26, 2015; and
WHEREAS, he was the son of Emilo N. Dupre' and the late Ezora Mabel
Darensbourg Dupre', and who was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Ann Dupre'; and
WHEREAS, Emilo was a devoted husband of forty-eight years to Bernardine Porche
Dupre' and was a beloved, amazing father to Monica Dupre' Witherspoon (Mohammed) and
grandfather to Monet and Montgomery Witherspoon; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his brother, Wayne Anthony Dupre' (Janet), uncle and
godfather of Mabel Ann Dupre', brother-in-law of Isaac Porche (Dorraine), Carrie Jones,
Robert Porche (Peggy), and the late Albert Porche (Bernardette), and a host of aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews and cousins; and
WHEREAS, Emilo was a jazz aficionado, avid fisherman, pipe collector, and stamp
collector, enjoyed viewing foreign movies, and was a connoisseur of the arts and esthetics
of life who loved the city of New Orleans and all of its food, music, culture and people; and
WHEREAS, he was an alumnus of Epiphany Elementary School, St. Augustine High
School and Xavier University of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Monk had a passion for community activism and racial equality being
a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, founding member and president of
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COUP (Community Organization for Urban Politics), President Emeritus of the New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Past President of the Professor Longhair Foundation,
Board Member of the Louis Armstrong Foundation, and former Board Member of the
Regional Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, he was a civil rights activist with CORE (Congress for Racial Equality),
worked for the New Orleans Plan, was a member of the Democratic Central Committee, and
was the co-owner of the New Orleans Client Center; it was very important to him that
African Americans in New Orleans expressed the right to vote and were informed of
political issues; and
WHEREAS, Monk's faith in God was very important to him; as a devout Catholic,
he participated as a member of the Parish Council of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish
Catholic Church; and
WHEREAS, family came first and Monk always enjoyed traveling or playing with
his grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Emilo Joseph "Monk" Dupre' was a man of great strength and intellect,
a caring individual who left his mark in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon role models like
Monk Dupre' who mold our future generations into responsible young men and women.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Emilo Joseph "Monk"
Dupre' on the occasion of his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Bernardine Porche Dupre'.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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