Edmund Newton O'Rourke, Jr.

Dr. Edmund Newton O'Rourke, Jr. died peacefully at 12:30 PM on Sunday, November 11, 2012, in a local hospital with his family around him. Ed was born on November 22, 1923 in New Orleans to Edmund N. O'Rourke and Gladys Adams O'Rourke. He is preceded in death by his parents and two older sisters, Maude O'Rourke Kenny and Gladys (Mickie) O'Rourke Mills.

Ed is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Rosemary Louque O'Rourke, his son, Brian Patrick O'Rourke and wife Dea; and grandson, Colin Patrick O'Rourke. In addition, he is survived by nieces, Kathy Dickson, Jean Jones, Cynthia Buckman and nephew Bill Mills.

Ed attended S.L.I. as an undergraduate. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European theatre where he took part in D-Day, he returned to S.L.I. to finish School and later married his childhood sweetheart Rosemary Claire Louque in 1947. After graduation from S.L.I., he attended Cornell University and received both a Masters degree and Doctorate in Pomology in three years.

Ed returned to the South to work for the U.S.D.A in Georgia on Tung Oil research. In 1956, he became a professor in the L.S.U. Horticulture Department. He conducted research on Sothern fruit crops, most notably figs, and eventually his favorite selection were released as the L.S.U. Purple, L.S.U. Gold, and the O'Rourke Figs. Ed loved to teach and throughout his 37 year career at L.S.U. he taught a variety of courses an mentored many graduate students sharing with them his love and knowledge of plants.

Ed loved plants of all types, having said often that it was his mother's roses at his childhood home that first inspired his love of plants. He loved to fish, in both fresh and salt water, and was unusually lucky.

After retirement, Ed co-authored a gardening book for the L.S.U. press titled Gardening in the Humid South and co-wrote a monthly gardening column for Country Roads Magazine with his good friend and colleague Dr. Leon Standifer.

The family asks that anyone who knew and appreciated Ed remember him by planting something in their garden.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles is in charge of arrangements.