Fortier Class 1955 Classmate Memory Book

Update 7/30/14

 

Loisel, Vic
 

1980 Interview
 

2010 Interview

 

VICTOR E. (VIC) LOISEL

A brief biography for the Fortier High School Class of '55, 60th yr. reunion

 

After Fortier, attended LSU (Baton Rouge) for two years, Fine Arts studies. Dropped out and joined the Marine Corps. After an honorable discharge, eventually returned to New Orleans, got married, and sought a career in art. Finally found a job combining both art and advertising.

Meanwhile, after returning to N. O, I found myself also caught up in my long-held interest in music (never played a concert instrument in school, however), so I acquired a string bass, taught myself to play it, and began playing in pop and jazz bands. First in N.O., then later, after moving to the NYC area, took an occasional modern jazz job while pursuing my art/advertising career. My love for classic and jazz music is still with me.

My chosen "day jobs" in art/advertising became more and more management-oriented, and a larger family (now a wife and two young children) asked more of me financially, so decided I needed a college degree. First , Tulane at night, then when the firm I was with folded, L.S.U.N.O. full-time days. With the help of music, other part-time work, and the G.I. Bill, I earned a BA degree (fine arts major) in 1970.

While at L.S.U.N.O. (now UNO), I found myself near the Lakefront Airport, so succumbed to another long-time interest and took flying lessons as well. Earned my private rating in N.O., then with advanced ratings added and aircraft ownership begun after moving to the NYC area, this became part of my life, and eventually, a good part of my advertising career, too.

After college, finding no work in my chosen field, I eventually moved to the NYC area (New Jersey side) in 1972. Finding opportunities there, I began "climbing the ladder" in the NYC area, developing skills as a writer as well as a design artist (lots of better "finishing" artists than me, but they needed my layouts to guide them). I eventually wound up in my own little advertising agency in New Jersey (my art skills had become included in the advertising), and I specialized in aviation. (Earlier in NYC, found my musical background helped in producing and directing commercials - so all my interests had come together.)

I've been married and divorced twice. My first marriage lasted 20 years and produced two children -Andreé, herself showing a brilliant musical career (flute, vocals), died in her mid-twenties of cancer, and Victor Jr., who, after a Tulane BA degree and a start as a geologist, chose to stay single and is now an "antique" furniture dealer in N.O., specializing in mid-century modern. My second marriage of 15 years began and ended in NJ - no children. (Hence no grandchildren from either.)

Anticipating retirement, and newly separated from my second wife, I moved from the NYC area to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a lovely, peaceful, very rural area on the Chesapeake, in 2001. (I wanted to escape the frenetic, urban life, but later found it too rural for me.) I continued with my own advertising services until retiring in 2004.

Since retirement, I've had a several articles I wrote published (and illustrated with my drawings - or photographs - in advertising I'd picked up photography as well). I'd also formed my own jazz trio on the Eastern Shore, but after only a few years arthritis in a hand made it impossible to play a full job.

In 2012, I "downsized", sold my property on the Chesapeake, (had sold my planes earlier, giving up flying) and moved just over 100 miles up to the Eastern Shore of Maryland (still mostly rural, but nearby areas satisfy my urban tastes), and into a new house I designed myself on 3 mostly wooded acres.

So here I am - an old man now, with his many memories. In reasonably good health, and hoping for new ones yet to come.

 

Vic Loisel (January 18, 2015)