Louis (Lou) "Speedy" Fournier

Dr. Louis Byron “Speedy” Fournier, PhD

Louis (Lou) “Speedy” Fournier, 76, a New Orleans native and former resident of Ponchatoula, died June 3, 2019, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA, due to complications arising from a stroke.

Lou was born on January 11, 1943, to parents Louis Joseph Fournier and Irene Jeanette (Meyers) Fournier.  The gift of a used chemistry set in his teens fascinated him and set the course for his career.  Lou achieved a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Journalism from Southeastern Louisiana College, in Hammond, LA, in 1965.  He earned his doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, in 1970.

Lou was an adjunct professor in Chemistry at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA, and he taught continuing education courses in Environmental Sciences at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI.  He was a contributor to technologies developed by DuPont between 1970 and 1987, and he was Principal Scientist at Groundwater Technology from 1987 to 1993.  In 1993, he founded STAR Environmental, providing world-renowned expertise on horizontal well drilling and environmental remediation.

In his leisure time, Lou was an avid genealogist, writer, and lifelong LSU fan.  He was a columnist and contributor for several publications, including The Daily Star (twice: once in the early 1960s and then again in 2006), in which he often reflected on family and local history and other stories of interest.  Lou was particularly intrigued by fascinating subjects including the life and times of Edgar Cayce, psychic phenomena, UFOs, and the pyramids of Egypt.  Several of his columns can still be found at http://stumblingaround.blogspot.com/.  In 2006, Lou authored “Anatomy of a Stroke: The Story of My Stroke”, which many readers credited for helping them through their own personal journeys during recovery.  Throughout his life, Lou enjoyed blending wit with wisdom in his writings, teachings, and conversations.

Lou survived throat cancer in 2009, and despite partial paralysis following his first stroke, he lived an independent life until 2014, when he moved to Atrium Assisted Living in Metairie, LA.  Lou eventually moved to Wesley Enhanced Living, a Continuing Care Community in Media, PA, where his oldest son is Director of Enhanced Living Programming.  He spent much of his time reading, as was always his passion, and exploring the facility in his electric wheelchair.

Lou is survived by his son, Louis Steven David, of West Chester, PA, his son and daughter-in-law Jason René and Olga, of Milwaukee, WI, his daughter, Cayce Lynn, of Baltimore, MD, and his grandchildren Joshua, Louie, Jadie, and Oliver.  He is also survived by his siblings, Laura Lawson, Mary Atwood, and Billy John Fournier.  In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his daughter, Robin Irene Travis, his former wife Judith Bates Fournier, and by his siblings, René Fournier, Virginia “Jeni” Greer, and Jean Thomas.

Funeral services will be held at Sandhill Cemetery in Ponchatoula, LA, on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at 10:00 AM.  He will be buried near his family, where his parents and numerous relatives up to six generations back are interred.

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