By Joseph A. “Tardy” Lucia Jr., LaPlace

DEAR EDITOR: I use this medium to express my deepest and most sincere thank-you to L’Observateur and Leonard Gray for the exceptional article on the passing of my father. For an individual (my father) who devoted his life to the information media and helping others he would be proud. I and my family know what kind of individual he was.

To the ICU staff at River Parishes Hospital, I express these same sentiments.

The care and understanding during his entire stay, especially during his final hours, has left me with a feeling of comfort. I know those who attended him did so in a fashion second to none.

For a very long time, my father (through L’Observateur) propositioned for a hospital in St. John the Baptist Parish. I feel it is only fitting that he passed away in the institution he lobbied for so diligently.

Ladies and gentlemen of River Parishes Hospital ICU especially (in alphabetical order) Ramona Bryant, Cortney Cortez, Erin Darbonne, Wayne Foster, Michael Gary, Jeanne Krawczyk, Medena Madden, Paige Rose, Stephanie Sanchez and Jaleen Zimmer, I thank you.

I know in my heart you did everything possible to make him comfortable.

To Dawn Braud, my wife Sheila, my daughters Laura and Leigh, and my sons-in-law, Mike and Blaine, thank you for the constant attention given to my father and mother away from the hospital.

P.S.: The nickname “Tardy” was given to me at birth by my father. I was born three weeks late.