John Harold Boucree

Mr. John Harold Boucree departed this life of 96 years on October 28, 2019 at 12:15 pm in the solace and comfort of his home, in the room he shared with his recently departed wife of 67 years. He was under the care of Passages Home Hospice of New Orleans and one of his watchful and devoted caretakers, and loving family. Born to the late Rosalie Raymond Boucree and the late Joseph Albert Boucree, Mr. Boucree had a long and distinguished life and career here in New Orleans in education as a Teacher and in education administration as a Principal and Orleans Parish School Board administrator. His formative educational years were accomplished at St. Monica’s Catholic Elementary School, Xavier University Preparatory High School, and collegiate education at Xavier University of Louisiana where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1944, concentrating in Mathematics, Latin, English and Social Studies. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in Education at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1950, where his study concentration was Teaching and Supervision of Mathematics. He accomplished post-graduate educational studies, in education administration, again at Xavier University of Louisiana and at Tulane University. At University of New Orleans in 1972, he pursued doctoral level coursework in Educational Administration earning an MA+30/ABD. His teaching and education were continuous except for his period of military service in the US Army during World War II from 1944-1946 where he was a Staff Sergeant and served in the US, Europe and Southwest Pacific. Mr. Boucree’s work experience is equally as extensive and has touched many of lives here in New Orleans in one way or another. He was not only superb in the classroom at his high school alma mater of Xavier Prep from 1946 to 1954 teaching Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Latin, Speech and Religion in the catholic education system, he also taught similar coursework in the public education system at Carter G. Woodson and Booker T. Washington. In 1960. He became the principal at Rosenwald Elementary School, then Carter G. Woodson Junior High School in 1961 and subsequently at Booker T. Washington Senior High School in 1966 through 1974. In late 1974, he became the Acting Supervisor for Guidance and Counseling and Staff Development for the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB), served a stint as the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Child Advocacy, then as Supervisor for Adolescent Service Centers. He retired from the OPSB in 1986. His commitment to educating the youth and young adults of the city did not stop with his retirement, however. From 1987 – 1994, he was a part-time instructor and Weekend College Teacher at Southern University of New Orleans. Mr. Boucree has had many organizational affiliations as an active member and in many instances in a leadership role with these organizations. These memberships and affiliations included: National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Alliance of Black School Educators, New Orleans Alliance of Black School Educators, Xavier University Alumni Association, Friends of Amistad Research Center, Knights of Peter Claver - Council #59; Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Parish Council, Liturgy Committee, and Choir, B-Sharp Music Club New Orleans Black Chorale, and Original Illinois Club. Harold Boucree has been honored several times from the schools where he taught as well as from the organization’s where he held membership and leadership roles. While the accolades and his leadership positions are too numerous to list here, a sampling of his participation and commitment to a variety of organizations, inside and outside of education, are included here as testimony to his breadth of knowledge, passion and interests: Organist and Choir Director St. Monica’s Catholic Church; Lector, Liturgy Committee Chairman, Parish Council Member, Parish Council President and Co-Chairman of the 75th Anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes Church; Member Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity; Chairperson (1975-1979), Commission of Supervisors of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE); Board Member of Associated Catholic Charities; Member B-Sharp Music Club; Member and Past President of New Orleans Black Chorale (NOBC); Member Knights of Peter Claver; a Founding Member of the Central City Community Organization; Member, Past Recording Secretary, King Illinois 1996 (King Henri I of Haiti), Debutante Cotillion Script Writer and Narrator, and now Honorary Member of the Original Illinois Club; member Retired Administrators of New Orleans Public Schools, 1987 to present. An interview with Mr. Boucree is memorialized in the Duke University Library and provides interesting reading and perspective about his time in New Orleans during the time of Jim Crow. The interview is entitled: “Interview with John Harold Boucree, July 5, 1994, Transcript of an Interview about Life in the Jim Crow South, New Orleans (La.)”. Behind the Veil: Documenting African American Life in the Jim Crow South; An oral history project to record and preserve the living memory of African American life during the age of legal segregation in the American South, from the 1890s to the 1950s.” https://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/behindtheveil_btvct07061/ Mr. Boucree’s hobbies have always been music (piano, organ and choral/vocal) beginning with his years at his home on Galvez Street where there was a piano in the home. A joy of his was to play to the piano and singing with the Black Chorale. Advancing time, age and health challenged his ability to continue participate as a “performer”, but he regularly appreciated others whose gift was music as a vocalist or pianist asking them to “render a solo” using the piano that was in his home, as a solo instrument or accompanying instrument. Mr. Boucree is survived by his loving children Rosalie Ann Boucree, Jeanne Boucree Eddington, Michael Christopher Boucree (Ivan Griffin); brother James Albert Boucree (Miriam); grandsons Robert Anthony and Matthew Aaron Eddington; and great-grandson Jourdan Christopher Matthew Eddington. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Olympia Eaglin Boucree, siblings Helen Rose Edwards and Edgar Joseph Boucree, Sr; grandson Christopher Matthew Eddington; niece Camille Boucree Gibbs, and nephew Joseph Edgar Boucree, Jr. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, as well as many friends, former students, and club members. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to physicians and staff of Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans, staff of Passages Home Hospice, members of Blessed Trinity Church, and the longtime Robert Street neighborhood inhabitants (Miss Shirley, Rene, Larry, Desiree, Dorothy and Bruce). Gratitude and warm sentiments of agape love are extended to Father Victor Cohea who was an ever-present constant friend and spiritual advisor since days at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Kind remembrance and appreciation is extended to Eucharistic Ministers Linward Martin and Cynthia Cheri, and Cynthia’s intercessory and healing prayer and music ministry in the home (often “rendering a solo”) and wherever Mr. Boucree was located. The family also wishes to extend gratitude and appreciation to Al Mims, who was like a son to Mr. Boucree, helping to transport, support, and keep him uplifted with visitation, conversation and prayer. Finally, the family wishes to express their deepest, heartfelt and immeasurable appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Boucree’s in-home sitter/caretakers - JoAnn Dotson, Patricia Donate, Precious Huderson Davis, Andrea Paul and personal care assistant Donald Surtain. These individuals were ever-present, attentive and supportive to Mr. Boucree’s care needs at home and while in the hospital with an unrivaled caring, and superlative excellence and attitude. Services will be held at 10:00am, on Monday, November 4, 2019, at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church New Orleans. Viewing 8am to 10 am, with a rosary at 9:15 am led by Sadie White. Interment will follow at St. Patrick #3 Mausoleum. His memory is a blessing to all! In remembrance of his life and legacy, as well as his wife’s life and legacy, a scholarship at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) for those pursuing secondary education studies as a career has been established. In lieu of flowers or other tokens of remembrance, comfort and sympathy, the family asks that you donate to the Mr. John Harold and Dr. Olympia Eaglin Boucree Endowed Scholarship for Secondary Education at Xavier University of Louisiana. Arrangements entrusted to D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home 3933 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA.