Obituary & articles: Fred Daspit, beloved professor 1955-1993, artist, dies at 83 – July 8, 2014

Dominick Cross, The Advertiser, July 10, 2014

It was just over three weeks ago, during Second Saturday ArtWalk, when Fred Daspit stood amongst his reliquary sculptures and conversed with friends and fellow artists at Gallery 549.

As of early Tuesday evening, Daspit will never again stand with his art and friends. The retired professor died after a brief illness at Lafayette General Medical Center. He was 83.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Friday until the 2 p.m. funeral at Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive. Interment is at the Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery, 2111 W. Pinhook Road.

The St. Martinville native earned his bachelor’s in art education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and his master’s in fine arts from Louisiana State University before returning to Lafayette where he taught art and architecture at what is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Daspit was the visual artist for 2013 Festival International de Louisiane.

For the past nine years, Daspit had a show in May at Gallery 549, operated by Don LeBlanc, former student and friend of nearly 40 years. Daspit’s work will remain up for ArtWalk on Saturday.

Daspit’s "infectious enthusiasm" was evident to LeBlanc, even as a 19-year-old student.

"Sitting in his class, he certainly made you believe that those things we were looking at were extraordinary and that we needed, as students, to become enthusiastic about them as well and find them as important as he did," said LeBlanc. "That sort of impression was not a temporary thing.

"When you sat in his classes and you were willing to take in what he was offering, you held onto it," LeBlanc said. "He had a way of making the material seem very much alive to you regardless of the time frame he was talking about."

LeBlanc said Daspit "had a way of bringing to the class a kind of zeal for the material — that was rare. It was exciting to sit in his classes and hear what he had to say about the making of objects, the making of things and the impact it had on various cultures throughout the history of human production."

And it didn’t stop on campus either. Daspit could engage in a discussion, no matter the topic.

"He brought a large brain to whatever conversation he was involved with," said LeBlanc. "It was a rich brain in terms of his experience, his knowledge, his sophistication on the subject matter."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Frederic O. Daspit’s name to the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum. To make a donation, call 337-482-0817.

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Fred Daspit was a true gentleman

Kris Watelle, The Advertiser, July 10, 2014

Our community recently lost a true gentleman when local artist and educator Fred Daspit passed away.

I did not know him well, but I interviewed him last year when he was named the official artist for Festival International 2013. I had met him a few other times, but all it took was one meeting to recognize that he was the consummate gentleman. The kind you rarely see these days. A man of manners and the ability to gracefully negotiate life.

Daspit was scholarly, a man of words. When I met with him, it was in the living room of his home, face to face, for a long conversation about his art, his life, his work.

He had suggested it be that way, due to some hearing issues, and I was of course, more than happy to oblige.

I went to his home in one of Lafayette’s older, more established neighborhoods. When I walked in, he stood to greet me, wearing a neatly tailored blazer and slacks. I was there to interview him, but he started the interview by asking me my last name. He wanted to know all about my family, who I was related to — the kind of discussion common among a certain generation, but rarely seen these days. He said he knew the name, even knew some of my family and had heard of others. He had kind words to say about them.

You can always spot a true gentleman. They are just brought up that way. Despite economic or social status, they know how to act in almost any situation. It’s not something they learn from Googling the term, or long lists on the Internet.

Yes, it has to do with manners and being polite. But more than that, being a true gentleman is about how you make those around you feel. Daspit, even in formal settings, made you feel comfortable.

You could tell he wasn’t going to be polite just to turn around and write nasty things on Facebook about the people he met.

In fact, I’m pretty sure he didn’t have a Facebook page, or Twitter, although I vaguely remember we had a laugh about his cell phone, which he wasn’t exactly sure how to use.

We don’t often see men like Daspit. In my job, I’m fortunate to run into some. They are the ones who will always hold a door for you, no matter how casual the setting, and will always help you if you drop something or forget your coat.

Daspit’s artwork was impressive for sure, and many will miss his talents though they will live on through his creations.

The comments from his former students are proof that they had nothing but fond praise for the educator in him. I suspect part of that is because he made them feel worthy and important. That would be the gentleman part of who he was.

I think the community will really miss Daspit. Even if you did not know him, you probably knew his work and will somehow feel the loss of such a gentleman.

Kris Wartelle is lifestyles writer for the Daily Advertiser and Times of Acadiana. Contact her at kwartelle@theadvertiser.com.

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Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 11, 2014 in the Delhomme Funeral Home Chapel of the Flowers for Frederic Oscar Daspit, 83, who passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 6:12 pm at Lafayette General Medical Center.

Burial will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Frederic, a resident of Lafayette, LA was the son of the late Andrew Daspit and the former Luzima Segura.

He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Jeannine Eastin Daspit; his children, Lauren C. Daspit and husband Steve Montgomery, Alysia D. Kobetz and husband Phil, Stephen E. Daspit and wife JoEllen, and Gregory L. Daspit; his grandchildren, Brittany Powers and husband Mike, Philip Daspit and his wife Hailey, Colin Montgomery, Madeleine Daspit, Elizabeth Kobetz, David Kobetz and Michael Kobetz; his great grandchildren, Aurora, Jack and Jett Powers, Manon Daspit and Avery Touchet; and his brothers, Willard Daspit and his wife Izzie, and Raymond Daspit and wife Dot.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Beranger Theriot, and his brother Robert Daspit.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home on Bertrand Drive on Friday, July 11, 2014 from 10:00 am until time of services.

Pallbearers will be Phil Kobetz, Steve Montgomery, Philip Daspit, Colin Montgomery, Mike Powers, David Kobetz and Michael Kobetz.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Frederic O. Daspit’s name to the Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum. To make a donation call 337-482-0817.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Daspit family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Source: Delhomme Funeral Home Website