Obituary

Obituary for Adrianne Irene Landry Baumgartner
Adrianne Irene Landry Baumgartner died peacefully on June 22, 2022, following a courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Adrianne was born on January 25, 1953 in Lafayette, Louisiana and was raised in her beloved New Iberia. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was the daughter of Alfred Smith “Smitty” Landry of New Iberia and Adrianne “Dianne” Mouton Landry of Lafayette, and was the oldest of their eleven children.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Robert Prescott Baumgartner. She and Robert had five children, Charles Purcell Baumgartner (d. 1982), Samuel Prescott Baumgartner (Kate), Margaret Amelie Baumgartner McCarty (Brent), William Landry Baumgartner (Chelsea), Luke Olivier Baumgartner, and her grandchildren Alex, Jacob, Olivia, Irene, Beau and Baby Boy Baumgartner arriving soon (Will and Chelsea).
She is also survived by her siblings Amelie Landry Bower, Alfred Smith Landry, Jr., Edward Paul Landry, Dianne Landry Kirsch, Charles Benjamin Landry, Thomas Barry Landry, Helen M. Landry-Seward and Alice Landry Basden, as well as countless nieces and nephews, all of whom she cherished and adored.
Adrianne was preceded in death by her son, Charles Purcell Baumgartner, her parents Alfred Smith “Smitty” Landry and Adrianne “Dianne” Mouton Landry, and her siblings Peter Alexander Landry and Louise Landry Hill.
Adrianne was devoted to her husband, children and extended family, and could always find a reason for a family gathering. Her greatest fear in any situation was that someone would be excluded. There was room for all at her table. Her happiest moments were spent at her tranquil home in rural St. Tammany Parish in the presence of her husband, children and grandchildren, with a glass of wine, an active fireplace, and anyone else who would join her for good food and great conversation. Adrianne never met a stranger. All who met her needed to be prepared to tell her where they were from and their mother’s maiden name so she could let them know how many mutual friends they had, or perhaps how she was related to them.
Adrianne attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart at Grand Couteau, class of 1971. She graduated from Tulane University’s M. Sophie Newcomb College in 1975, and earned her Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law in 1978 (Order of the Coif).
Adrianne loved the practice of law second only to her family. She began her legal career with the law firm of Porteous, Toledano, Hainkel & Johnson (now Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, L.L.P.) in 1978. In her words, “they let me be a lawyer. I didn’t carry anyone’s briefcase.” In 1982, she became the first female partner of the firm, and opened the firm’s Covington office which she continued to expand over the years. Adrianne practiced with the firm her entire career until her retirement in 2021, and served as the firm’s first female managing partner from 2011-2013. She had a deep love for her partners, associates and staff. She stressed the importance of always showing respect and candor to other lawyers, even when reciprocity was lacking. Adrianne also felt that one of the most important responsibilities of the profession was the mentoring of young lawyers, an obligation she took very seriously.
She was a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association for 44 years, as well as the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (LADC), and served as its first female president from 2004-2005. She was also the first legacy president of LADC, with her father serving as president from 1978-1979. She was member of the Executive Board of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. In 2011, she was inducted into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and served as its State Committee Chair. She also had a special love for her colleagues in the 22nd Judicial District, where she spent most of her career.
Adrianne was very active in her church and community and always made service to others a priority. She was a graduate of the 1994 inaugural class of Leadership St. Tammany. She was a lifelong and devout Catholic, and a parishioner at St. Peter Church in Covington for many years, where she served as a lector. She served on the St. Peter School Board and the Stewardship Committee. She served on the Board of Trustees for St. Paul’s School and the school’s Renaissance Board. She was active in support of wounded veterans, as well as those killed in action and their families, and served on the Board of Directors of Support our War Heroes. She served on the Board of Directors of the Covington Food Bank (now Northshore Food Bank).
She was also active in business and legislative endeavors, and was an active member of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), serving on its Board of Directors as well as the Board Executive Committee, and was the recipient of the 2020 LABI Ed Steimel Lifetime Achievement Award.
Adrianne believed that every individual was deserving of love, dignity, respect and compassion. She always sought to help others, including those she disagreed with or those whom others may have felt were undeserving. She exhibited commitment and tenacity in the face of adversity, and courage and assurance in the face of tragedy. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Ochsner Health System, St. Tammany Parish Hospital and the St. Tammany Cancer Center for the tireless efforts, professionalism and compassion shown to Adrianne over the past year. We are forever grateful.
Services will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 E. 19th Avenue, Covington, Louisiana 70433. Visitation will be held in church beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding with funeral mass beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Abbey, 75376 River Rd, St Benedict, LA 70457. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Northshore Food Bank in Covington or St. Joseph Abbey.