Albert Leopold Vitter Jr., a lifelong resident of New Orleans, LA, died Friday October 17, 2003 at his home at the age of 87. Mr. Vitter attended St. Matthias Catholic School and graduated from Holy Cross High School. He was a 1935 electrical engineering graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he also received a masters degree in physics and served on the faculty. He first worked for the State of Louisiana in the Department of Conservation. During World War II, Mr. Vitter was engaged by the United States Government's Office for Scientific Research and Development at MIT's Radiation Laboratory and also as an instructor at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. He was later employed by Chevron Oil Company as Chief Engineer until his retirement in 1981. Mr. Vitter was a tireless volunteer in the community, performing computer analysis for VIA (Volunteer Information Agency), St. Rita Parish, and the St. Vincent dePaul Society. He was a benefactor of the University of Notre Dame. For his outstanding dedication to the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of New Orleans honored him with the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion.
"One of my father's defining qualities was the combination of intelligence, hard work, and thoroughness that he brought to bear on everything he did," said his son Al Vitter III.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Audrey St. Raymond Vitter; four sons Albert L. Vitter III and J. Mark Vitter of New Orleans, Jeffrey S. Vitter of West Lafayette, Indiana, and David B. Vitter of Metairie, Louisiana; two daughters Martha (Tootie) Vitter Jackoniski of Alpharetta, Georgia and Donna Vitter of Paris, France; and 15 grandchildren.
Preceding a Mass on Tuesday, October 21 at 11 a.m. at St. Rita of Cascia Church, 2729 Lowerline St. in New Orleans, there was a visitation at Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home at 4127 S. Claiborne Avenue from 9 a.m. Donations to the American Parkinson Disease Association Inc. (1250 Hylan Blvd. Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305-1946, 1-800-223-2732, www.apdaparkinson.org) are appreciated.