It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our Collaborative sister, Carol Balthazar, on Friday, March 9, 2018.
Carol was an entrepreneur and businesswoman to her core, with Balthazar Electriks being her crowning achievement and passion project for the past 25 years. Her professional career began in New York where she learned how to navigate the corporate world, and more importantly fine-tuned her natural ability to connect and network with any and everyone she met. She brought her experience back to Louisiana when she returned in 1993 and founded Balthazar Electriks.
Carol was an advocate for small businesses. She founded the RiverWorks Business Development Group in 1992 and worked with the Port of New Orleans as its DBE consultant until 2016. She was also an active member of The Collaborative, a group of small business owners and citizens advocating for economic equity and parity in New Orleans. Carol also served on the boards of many community organizations, and was a passionate supporter of the arts. She was a leader with integrity and honesty, wholly dedicated to her work and the humanitarian servant-hood of her community.
At Balthazar Electriks we are more than an office, we are a family, and Carol was our matriarch, leader, guiding light, master networker, and a dear friend. The coming months will be difficult but we will continue on under the leadership of our Vice President, Faustina Balthazar, who will step in as CEO.
A local celebration of Carol’s life will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at St. Augustine Catholic Church at 1210 Governor Nicholls Street. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am to 11:30 am with a rosary at 10:30 am. The funeral mass will begin at 11:30 AM. Following the mass all are invited to join the family for a repast and sharing of remembrances at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Center at 1225 North Rampart Street.
On Saturday, March 17, 2018 Carol’s life celebration will continue in her hometown, Cane River, at St. Augustine Catholic Church at 2250 LA-484. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The funeral mass will begin at 12:00 pm with burial immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation or the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Jazz Camp.