Russell "Rusty" Charles Gaspard

Abbeville—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 5, 2022 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Russell “Rusty” Charles Gaspard, 64, who passed away on Friday, October21, 2022.  He will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Father Danny Picard officiating the services.

Rusty was born in Vermilion Parish where he attended Mount Carmel Elementary. Growing up, he was an altar server, Eagle Scout, and a pageboy for the LA Senate. He graduated from Abbeville High School class of 1976. He attended the University of Southern Louisiana at Lafayette majoring in architecture before transitioning into Culinary Arts at Delgado College in New Orleans where he interned at Commander’s Palace under Paul Prudhomme. Rusty was a manager with A La Carte in Lafayette before becoming general manager of Magnolia Bar and Grill in Houston and occasional guest chef on Good Morning Houston.

In 1994, Paul Prudhomme recommended Rusty to the California Culinary Academy when they added Cajun cooking to the New America Cuisine program, and Rusty jumped at the chance to move to San Francisco. While working at the Culinary Academy, he went through the Baking & Pastry Arts Program where he was awarded the distinction of "Outstanding Student of the Class" and obtained a "Nutrition for the Foodservice Manager” certification. After graduating, he become the private dining chef at Jeremiah Tower’s Stars Restaurant, one of the top-grossing and most famous restaurants in the Bay Area.

Due to health issues, Rusty had to retire early, but he kept working as a consultant and volunteered his time - and cooking skills - to many charity events.  He was the co-founder of the popular San Francisco (SF) Annual Pride Brunch for Positive Resource Center (PRC) which is now in its 24th year.  He also organized - and cooked for - a very successful Hurricane Katrina fundraiser in Sausalito.  Rusty was a member of the San Francisco based Krewe de Kinque and was bestowed with the title of Crown Prince of Pomp and Circumstance by the Imperial Court of San Francisco continuing to volunteer his time to many events.

Rusty enjoyed the arts, astrology, traveling, and civil engineering. He traveled to many countries where he enjoyed experiencing different cultures. His travels eventually took him to the place of his ancestors in Bamberg, Germany. As much as he enjoyed traveling, he also enjoyed coming home to Vermilion Parish to spend time with his family. Like all Cajuns, he always enjoyed eating the food here!

He is survived by his life partner, John Bien; mother, Laura H. Gaspard; two sisters, Anne Gaspard and Claire G. Broussard; nephews, Jude and husband, Lee LaBry, Jerrod Broussard and wife, Katelyn and their children, Russell, Trey, Charlotte, and Emilia, Kirsten and husband, Rixey Broussard and their son, Hayes, and Karen and husband, Alan Haney and their children, Alaina Hamlett and Evelyn; along with many cousins and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father, Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court Russell Gaspard; an infant brother, Richard Neil; and his brother-in-law, Daniel Broussard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to PRC, PRC, 170 9th St., San Francisco, CA 94103 (prcsf.org) in San Francisco.