VANESSA REIN GERONDALE
1957-2017
Vanessa Rein Gerondale, 60, born September 27, 1957 died peacefully Dec. 12th, 2017 surrounded by loving family in her home after a brief experience with pancreatic cancer.
A consummate lover of great literature and keen observer of politics, she possessed a gifted palate for cuisine and expressed her love of family and friends over decades by crafting amazing meals. Around the dinner table she was a self-described fiscal conservative and social liberal.
Vanessa grew up working in the family business “Industrial Instrument Works” in New Orleans and attended all girls’ Catholic High School “Mercy Academy” and studied French during a high school summer in Jonquière Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Sociology and a special interest in criminal deviancy. One semester she served as a legislative aid to US Rep. Lindy Boggs –Dem. in Washington D.C., and one semester studied the criminal justice system working at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center –Okla. Dept. Corrections. She met her future husband, Gavin while volunteering at “Number Nyne” suicide/crisis hot line in Norman Oklahoma.
She worked administratively at Lyman Personnel to help put Gavin through Optometry School at UH then worked in their optical business getting their fledgling practice off the ground. Finally she pursued her dreams of being a “stay at home mom” raising two sons Joey and Spencer, and providing leadership in Cub and Boy Scouts and Parent/ Teacher organizations. After her sons went off to college, she initiated her own business as a purveyor of mid. century modern antiques, “Two Blue”, which she operated for 13 years on 19th St. in the Heights. She enjoyed a brief cameo of stardom on TV in a national advertising campaign for Activia Yogurt! Vanessa spent her last eight years volunteering for a nonprofit organization Houston Mod, dedicated to the preservation of modern design and architecture. Her passion and advocacy were exemplified by achieving “Historic Protected Landmark “designation for her beloved 1965 Brooks & Brooks designed residence in Meyerland.
The family traveled extensively and Vanessa enjoyed planning the trips as much as the trips themselves. Favorite destinations were the Canadian Maritime Provinces, British Columbia and Alberta. She said she never had a bad time in Canada. A week in Paris, France and SCUBA diving in Hawaii were additional highlights.
Vanessa’s final wish is to have her ashes scattered into the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN for the longest Southern ride back to her native New Orleans.
Vanessa is survived by her husband of 39 years Dr. Gavin Gerondale, son Joey and wife Annie Gerondale in Kansas City, son Spencer and wife Missy Gerondale in Houston, and sisters Pamela and husband Bernard Sontag in New Orleans and Melissa and husband Traiwin Malone in Austin.