A Moment of Silence for James Fondren (1934"?uFeb. 3, 2013)

James Fondren, Tulane University's resident landscape architect.

The Times-Picayune reports that landscape architect James Fondren passed away Feb. 3, 2013 of complications from kidney failure and cancer at River Region Hospice in River Ridge, Louisiana. He was 79.

Mr. Fondren was a Morgan City, Louisiana native who lived in the New Orleans area nearly a half-century. He earned degrees in horticulture at McNeese State College, and in landscape architecture at LSU.

Mr. Fondren founded his landscape architectural firm in 1961, and became Tulane University's resident landscape architect. At Tulane he directed a staff of architects and engineers, was appointed the assistant director of the physical plant for facility planning and construction and taught landscape architecture.

He prepared a preliminary master plan for Tulane University that served as the guide for additions to the uptown campus in the 1980s and 1990s.

James Fondren and Associates, Landscape Architects and Planners of New Orleans, along with Theodore Osmundson and Associates, Landscape Architects of San Francisco (consultants), produced a master plan for Lafreniere Park, the largest park in Metairie, Louisiana.

His landscape architect projects ranged from Metairie's Lafreniere Park, to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Working with state and federal officials, Mr. Fondren garnered about $56 million in grants for those parks. At Jean Lafitte Park he did the master plan and also designed the park's buildings. Smaller scale work included designing a garden for the blind people at Temple Sinai, sponsored by the Temple Sisterhood. Braille signs explain the plant palette.

For more than 40 years, Mr. Fondren was a member of the Magnolia School Board, including a term as chairman. Founded in 1935, Magnolia School is a private nonprofit that deals with 125 adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in its 19 group homes. Mr. Fondren raised more than $100,000 for the school from foundations he worked for.

The Times-Picayune relates how Mr. Fondren came to volunteer at Magnolia School. His wife, Herta, explains that during Hurricane Betsy in September 1965, he was driving on River Road when an oak tree fell across the road, its branches wrapping around his car and a live power line trapping him in his car until help came. There in the car he promised God that if he escaped alive, he would do good deeds. As it happened, his trapped car was in front of Magnolia School. He took it as a sign to help that school, and came to know every one of its residents.

Mr. Fondren is survived by his wife, a son, Timothy, daughters Catherine and Elizabeth, stepdaughters Debra and Elizabeth and two step-grandchildren.