Obituary

Dr. Richard Ocie Bessent passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2025. He was a beloved doctor and resident of the Greater New Orleans area for more than 40 wonderful years.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Macaluso Bessent; his children, Charles Townsend Bessent and Richard Olivier Bessent. He is also survived by his sister Charlene Bessent and his mother Vonnie Bessent.
He was preceded in death by his father Ray Bessent and his brother John Bessent.
Richard was born in Jacksonville, FL on February 14, 1953 to Ray and Vonnie Bessent who raised him as a hard working farm boy and avid outdoorsman. As the first person in his family to receive a college education, Richard attended Vanderbilt University on academic scholarship where he graduated with honors from the School of Medicine in 1979. He followed Vanderbilt with an Internship at Baylor School of Medicine and eventually a Residency in Ophthalmology at Tulane University. Richard fell in Love with New Orleans, along with Virginia Provosty, resulting in the beginning of a family and the decision to move to Covington, Louisiana. Richard served his community as a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, opening Surgical Eye Associates alongside his partner Steven R. Meyer, M.D. in 1984. He was beloved by his patients and staff, remaining a dedicated and ever-available doctor and surgeon until a stroke forced retirement in 2021. He gave the gift of sight daily, averaging over 4000 cataract surgeries a year during his impressive and fruitful career. No matter the necessity, no matter the hour he was always just a phone call away.
He was as comfortable on a tractor as he was in the operating room. His friends will remember him as a loyal and faithful companion. He was an avid outdoorsman, a voracious student of the world, reader, scientist, deep thinker and conversationalist. Above all, he loved to laugh. If you had the pleasure of being in the room, or even the adjacent room, his infectious bellow was heartwarming, and impossible to mistake. His love of medicine and dedication to his career was superseded only by the love he had for his family and dearest friends. The man had a big, beautiful heart–a supporter of valiant causes and a consistent advocate for the underdog. He will be sorely missed by his family and his memory lives on in often retold stories he loved to elaborate to the delight and amusement of the hearer. His legacy rests in the simple fact that he helped his patients, family and friends see this beautiful world with clearer vision and a lighter heart.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in memory of Dr. Bessent be made to the charity of your choice.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial services at St. Joseph Abbey, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, LA 70457 on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 2:00 PM with visitation at the Abbey on Thursday beginning at 1:00 PM.