Covington Woman murdered in New Orleans
Covington community grieves loss of caring mom and
co-worker
St. Tammany Farmer, Covington Louisiana
March 19, 1998
Community reaction to the tragic death of a 51-year old court reporter and mother of two has been shock and disbelief.
Lynn Vessier Revere Nunez of Covington, was found dead at the wheel of her car in the 200 block of South Hennessy Street in mid town New Orleans Sunday.
Nunez had gone to the city Saturday night to attend a wedding and called her son, Thomas J. "Pete" Revere, and told him she wanted to spend the night at his home and see her 1-month old grandson. She never arrived and her car was found the next morning 30 feet from her son's home. New Orleans Police say Nunez was shot once in the head. They have no clues or suspects in the shooting.
"She was my best friend and took care of me and our whole family even though she was younger than me," said Gale Bennett, Nunez' sister.
Bennett said Nunez took care of two grand nieces after their mother died and looked after them till the day she died. Gale Bennett's daughter, Charlotte, died leaving two daughters about a year and a half ago, Bennett said. Nunez took them in, bought clothes and took care of them, she said.
"She was always looking after the family, she took in my daughter Kelly for awhile, kept my mom at her house for 12 years and was always there for me," Bennett said.
One of Nunez closest friends was Susan Gill, a secretary for Judge Patricia Hedges. "I am going to miss her, I'm just in shock," Gill said Monday. Gill said whenever she wanted to talk about a problem or just have someone to talk to in general, she would pick up the phone and call Nunez, "Who am I going to call," she asked stoically.
Hedges, for whom Nunez was a court reporter, said she will be missed. "Lynn was a wonderfully vivacious person. She was conscientious; her work was done on time, and she was the backbone of her family," Hedges said.
Hedges said, Nunez was always helping somebody, "it won't be the same around here without her," she said.
Eileen Chatellier, a deputy clerk of court and friend of 20 years, said she too was shocked. "Lynn would do anything for you, she was a tough lady, hard working, but had a heart of gold."
Nunez worked for a time with Brady Fitzsimmons when he was a judge in the 22nd Judicial District. Now a First Circuit Court of Appeals judge, Fitzsimmons remembered her as a "tough lady with a real big heart."
"She never abused her (close) proximity to the judge, but I always listened to her," he said. From time to time, Nunez would take advantage of that proximity, he said. "She would say, can I mention something to you," he said. Then Nunez would give some background information on a case that would dictate some compassion, Fitzsimmons said. "In this world there are givers and takers, Lynn was a giver," he said.
Judge Steve Duczer, now retired, also remembered Nunez. "I'm in shock, I just can't believe it," he said. Duczer said he thought the neighborhood around Jesuit High School was nice and never expected anything like that would happen around there. Hennessy Street is about three blocks away from the school.
Covington attorney and former assistant district attorney Herb Alexander said Nunez was just one of the nicest people he ever knew. "I really admired and respected her," he said.
Jeff Bratton, Covington attorney and former School Board member, said the word association for Nunez was "can do." Bratton said she impressed him as a woman of considerable ability with an excellent sense of humor.
Public Defender Sal Liberto said Nunez put him at ease when he first started practicing law. "She couldn't have been nicer to me. She knew I was nervous and talked to me," he said.
Her two sons will miss her the most,. Gary Nunez, her former husband, said Monday he and Lynn had put all their efforts into raising their son after their divorce about 15 years ago.
"We got along, we had our differences, but we remained friends," Nunez said. The hardest thing he has ever had to do was tell his son, Gary C. Nunez Jr. that his mother was dead.
"He (Gary Jr.) called Covington police to find out what was happening to his mom," Nunez said. He only knew there was some kind of a problem with her car.
Gary Jr., who is now a sheriff's deputy in St. Tammany Parish, called Covington police and was asked who he was after inquiring about his mother. The officer then asked Gary Jr. if his father was around. When he said yes, the officer asked to speak to his father.
"The policeman had a hard time telling me what had happened. Then I had a hard time telling my son that his mother was dead."