By LEONARD GRAY

One of my regular assignments here at L’Observateur is keeping track of the obituary notices. It’s not a pleasant job, but it is a necessary one. It’s part of a community newspaper’s function, to keep everyone appraised as to recent deaths.

This week, I had the sad duty to write on the death of Joseph Lucia Sr., a former owner of this newspaper.

I cannot say I knew Joe Lucia long or well. In recent years, he’s kept a low profile, spending his time with his family.

I did have the pleasure last year of writing a feature on his life and career, learning much about the man in the process. His 40-year career in journalism, with nearly 30 of those years spent at the helm of L’Observateur, still gave him time enough for community involvement and leadership, championing many causes, from the push for a local hospital to opening his editorial pages to a merry debate on the proper spelling of the name of the town of “LaPlace.”

He thoroughly enjoyed golfing and did much work on his scrapbooks and memoirs, looking with pride and a sense of accomplishment on a life, not wasted, but lived to the fullest.

My very first sight of Joe Lucia, in fact, was on a golf course in 1972, when he was pointed out to me, golfing with the St. Charles Herald publisher, H.E. “Gene” Yoes Jr. at Willowdale Country Club.

My interview with Joe for the feature was a pleasure, both for me and for him. He enjoyed the article and, from time to time, called me later with story suggestions.

My biggest regret is that I hadn’t done the story sooner, and thence had the pleasure of more years of his acquaintance, advice and guidance.

He always wanted to contribute. He always wanted to help.

Isn’t that what we’re all supposed to be here for? Isn’t that the true purpose of life?

LEONARD GRAY is assistant managing editor of L’Observateur.