Alan Matherne

*Alan John Matherne*, 58, died Monday, April 11, 2016 at his home in
Larose, LA. Surrounded by his loving family, he passed away after a brave,
year-long struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He leaves
behind two daughters, Janae Marie Matherne and Jani Marie Matherne of
Larose, La; a granddaughter Adalyn Claire Langford; a sister Aischa Simon
Prudhomme of River Ridge; and a brother Barry Matherne of Miami, Florida;,
and his mother Enola Comardelle Simon of Bayou Gauche. He is preceded in
death by his son, Joshua "Josh" Paul LeBlanc and his father Leo Matherne.

Born and raised in the community of Bayou Gauche, Louisiana, Matherne was
an avid outdoorsman who loved communing with nature. His love of the
natural world led him to pursue and obtain a bachelor's degree in Marine
Biology in 1981 from Nicholls State University. His dedication to teaching
would later lead to a master's degree in Vocational Education in 1992 from
Louisiana State University (LSU). Matherne was employed as a Marine
Extension Agent with the LSU Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Sea
Grant College Program from 1981 to 1997, where he served the coastal
residents of St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Lafourche parishes. Matherne
founded Mathco Computer in 1997 and worked in the private sector for more
than a decade before returning to LSU in 2010, where he continued his
marine extension work in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes until his
passing. Throughout his career, Alan was the epitome of a dedicated public
servant. Always willing to help, he worked tirelessly to provide
science-based programming to meet the informational needs of coastal
fishermen, landowners, business, local governments, and students. He was an
avid reader, fisherman, diver, hunter, naturalist, teacher, and
communicator. He was a loving son, brother, father and grandfather and a
friend to many. Alan lived by the golden rule, believed in the power of
positive thinking, and the importance of making a difference in people's
lives through education. He will be sorely missed by both family and
friends.