Nathaniel Joseph Chesnut, Jr.
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Nathaniel Joseph Chesnut, Jr.

  • July 15, 1922 - February 1, 2012
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
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“Dear Stephen and Lita and family: How wonderful it was to have shared a life with such a kind and loving person. Stephen your father had a wonderful...Read More » ”
1 of 8 | Posted by: carla jean gonzalez and family - LA

“Sending my deepest sympathy to you, Randall & Stephen...With love, Virginia Bernard ”
2 of 8 | Posted by: Virginia Bernard - New Orleans, LA

“Dear Lita, our love, thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy are with and for you and yours at this very sad time. You and Nat will be for ever...Read More » ”
3 of 8 | Posted by: lem & mary Jane McCoy - covington, LA

“I have had the honor to enjoy Nat's friendship through a couple of fraternal organizations in which we was loved and admired. He will be deeply...Read More » ”
4 of 8 | Posted by: Keene Kelley - New Orleans, LA

“I worked for Nat from 1967 to 1970. He was so very sweet to me. He was the head of PR for Orleans Parish School Board at the time. It was a rough...Read More » ”
5 of 8 | Posted by: Susan H. Steward-Barre - Berkeley, CA

“Nat was one of the first people I met after I settled in New Orleans in 1981. He was doing PR for the Dock Board, which I was assigned to cover by...Read More » ”
6 of 8 | Posted by: Dean Shapiro - Gretna, LA

“Dear Lita, My sincerest sympathy to you and your family. Katherine Talluto ”
7 of 8 | Posted by: Katherine Talluto - New Orleans, LA

“The entire staff at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home wishes to express their sincere condolences. ”
8 of 8 | Posted by: Sharon A. Galman (Funeral Director)


NATHANIEL JOSEPH CHESNUT, JR., a retired advertising executive and public relations professional, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2012. He is survived by his beloved wife Lita and their two sons, Randall (Allegra) and Stephen. He was preceded in death by his father Nathaniel J. Chesnut and mother Irene Marquez Chesnut.

He graduated from Loyola University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and later received a Masters in Business Administration from Tulane University. During World War II, he attained the rank of Lieutenant and served in the Pacific Theatre. He served as Director of Public Information for the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, where he was Editor of the Port Record. After leaving the Port, he again served as Director of Public Information for the Command of Naval Reserve Forces (COMNAVRESFOR), where he was Editor of the Naval Reservist News, which was distributed to U.S. Naval Reserve personnel worldwide. He and his department received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) for their work during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91. Nat was actively involved in several civic and cultural organizations.

He was president of the Foreign Relations Association of New Orleans and the Japan Society of New Orleans. He served as an officer and member of the board of directors of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre and also on the board of the Round Table Club. He was also a member of several private men's clubs. For his numerous civic and business achievements, Nat was named an Honorary Senator for the State of Louisiana. He enjoyed travel and experienced many trips across the nation and abroad. He was a loving and devoted husband and father and a true gentleman. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, followed by a funeral mass at 1 p.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans. Interment will be at Metairie Cemetery in the Hoz-Chesnut tomb.