Louis "Lou" Lambert

J. Louis (Lou) Lambert of Hollywood, CA died on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at Kaiser Sunset Hospital after suffering a stroke, following a lengthy and courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Lou was the seventh of eight sons born to Eddie and Madeleine (née Laflamme) of Augusta, Maine. After graduation from St. Augustine, the local parochial school, Lou briefly attended high school but left to work in the cotton mill. Soon realizing that this was not the best career move he could have made, he followed the path of his five older brothers and enlisted in the military. He opted for the U.S. Air Force, never disclosing that he had suffered paralytic polio as a child, which would have been a disqualifying factor had the USAF recruiter known Lou's medical history. Since Lou no longer exhibited any noticeable effects of the childhood paralysis, the Air Force was none the wiser. Lou served at various posts in New York, Wyoming, and New Jersey before being transferred to Morocco where he worked as a French/English interpreter. After a year and a half in North Africa, Lou returned to the USA and was assigned to Pope AFB in North Carolina where he completed his four-year enlistment. Lou was heavily influenced by his older brothers and their military service. His pride of country and devotion to duty and service were notably reflected in his actions for the rest of his life. He was an honored member of the American Legion.

In 1956, Lou returned to Maine but, enamored with warm weather and seeking more and better educational and job opportunities, he soon heeded the call to "Go West, Young Man", married Janet Gregoire, and moved to California. With his GED completed while in the military, Lou attended California College of Commerce from which he graduated with a B.S. in Higher Accounting and continued on to enroll at Long Beach State College to pursue his Masters' Degree. Janet and Lou were blessed with three children, Peter, Karen and Lois. As with many young families, there were seldom enough hours in a day to manage multiple jobs, advanced schooling and the rigors of family needs. Commuting to multiple cities for many years for business put a tremendous strain on their marriage which became irreconcilable for both of them in the early 1970's.

After an extensive career in the automotive industry with Chrysler and Computer Automotive Reporting Services ("CARS"), Lou established his own business consulting firm in Los Angeles. It was during this time that he met Sandra Mann leading to a twelve-year courtship and marriage in 1985. It also marked Lou's return to his Catholic faith.

Lou was a man of many dimensions, a Renaissance Man, if you will. He loved his family of both blood and heart with his whole being. He was a voracious reader, teacher and mentor. He loved a rousing discussion on science, history, politics, religion and philosophy…and always with an open mind and heart. He relished nothing more than inspiring young people and helping them to set goals and achieve them. He mentored multiple Boy Scouts working to achieve their Eagle Scout designations and enabled the creation of several Parish service and youth groups.

With a devilish twinkle in his eyes and an ever-present smile on his face, Lou led a life of service, generosity and spirituality. He believed in the importance of community and its relevance in our lives. He worked for or provided pro bono consulting to the pastors of Holy Family Glendale, Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Communities. Also, Lou gave generously of his time and talents to Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Community providing leadership to the Parish Council, and maintenance to facilities and automated systems support. He was instrumental in the transfer of the St. Vincent De Paul Society from an archdiocesan organization back to an independent, lay-run entity. He advocated for the Society's Cardinal Manning Center on Skid Row, the Circle V Ranch for primarily low-income, inner city youth, and the Thrift Store. He lived by the motto "Leave everything better than when you found it". So, when he and Sandy bought their home in Hollywood in 1975, it became their open door to all for comfort, food, conversation, and acceptance. Ongoing house renovations, often executed or directed by Lou, became a metaphor for craftsmanship and 'built to last'.

Lou savored single malt scotch. "French" frogs, a nod to his heritage, could be spotted inside and out at the Lamberts' Sycamores. Black and white photography was a passion and pastime. He was in the Parish choir and one of the highlights of his life was his opportunity to be a guest conductor under Arthur B. Rubinstein for a John Philip Sousa march at Symphony in the Glen in 2001. He loved travelling, good wine and interacting with the people he met along his journeys both within the U.S. and abroad. In 2007, he thoroughly enjoyed a cross-country photo journalistic trek across the U.S. He traveled, not just for the sake of distance, but for the connection to the personalities he would meet and the commonalities of us all being human beings inhabiting the same planet. He gifted us all with his ever present laughter and joyful countenance.

Lou lived and loved with his entire heart and soul and was deeply loved in return.

Lou is predeceased by his mother and father, Eddie and Madeleine, his brothers, Armand, Martin, Larry, Paul, and Bill, and his ex-wife and mother of his children, Janet (née Grégoire).

He is survived by his loving partner/wife of over 46 years, Sandra (née Mann), his brothers, John of Sebring, FL and George of Kennebunk, ME and their wives, respectively, Audie and Mariette, his children, Peter and wife Elvie, daughters, Karen Taylor and husband Dean, and Lois Hinton and husband Robert, grandchildren, Kevin, James, Stacy, Megan, Audrey, Charlotte, and Maureen, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Lou has been cremated. There will be a Celebration of his Life on March 30, 2019 at 2 PM at Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Community followed by a reception in the St. Augustine Center (2060 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027). His ashes will be interred later at the Los Angeles National Veterans Cemetery in Westwood, CA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Lou's name to either the Alzheimer's Association or the March of Dimes.