Ned died Oct. 4, 2016, in Alexandria, La., after a protracted onset of Alzheimer’s.
Ned joined our class as a sophomore after spending his freshman year at Louisiana State University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in religion, writing his thesis on “Revelation in the Theology of Paul Tillich.” He served with the Chapel deacons and was a member of the Student Christian Association and Cap and Gown. During his senior year he roomed in Gauss Hall with five classmates.
In 1967, Ned earned his law degree from Tulane University and then launched an exemplary career in law and politics. He served as a member of the Louisiana state legislature for 12 years, and in 2008 was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.
Ned served for 20 years as the mayor of Alexandria, an extraordinary tenure of civic pride and revitalization for the city. The day after he passed away, the city’s newspaper wrote that in bringing dignity back to the mayor’s office, Ned did so with “his twin virtues of kindness and integrity.” For those in our class who knew him, these accolades come as no surprise.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah; children Ned and Aimee Lapic ’92; and stepson Matthew Dunn. The class extends its sympathy to them all.