Rene W. Lacoste

Rene W. Lacoste, age 92 of Naples, Florida, passed away on December 6, 2021. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and was the youngest born to Antoinette (Carle) and David Lacoste. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Marguerite Deslauriers, Madeleine Burke, Muriel Berry, and David Lacoste. All his first cousins have passed on too thus, Rene’s passing notes the end of a family generation. Rene grew up on a farm in Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island. With French as his family’s native language, Rene did not learn to speak English until first grader in the English-speaking local public school system. On the farm, in addition to other chores, he cleaned hen coups, baled hay, picked strawberries, cleaned animal stalls, and milked the family’s cow and two goats. When not working on the farm, he enjoyed riding his favorite horse, Rex, and ice skating in the winter and swimming in the summer at the pond on the farm. Rene earned his accounting degree from Bryant University, working in a plumber's office to pay his way. He also worked in a Studebaker car dealership, occasionally working the floor. He sold several Studebakers. Rene served two years in the U.S. Army in the early 1950’s during the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Rene’s life would change forever for the better when he met his future bride on a blind date that had been arranged by mutual friends. He danced that night with the beautiful Jacqueline, of French Canadian decent also from Rhode Island. L’amour et le bonheur! Love is bliss. Their wedded life of 64 years took them from Rhode Island, to Willingboro, New Jersey, to Bowie and Ocean City, Maryland, and finally to Naples, Florida. In addition to his wife Jackie, Rene is survived by their five children: Paul (Jean), Michelle (Dan), David (Maryjane), Marc, and Nicole (Jeff); eight grandchildren: Heather, Christopher, Jillian, Alea, Crey, Madeleine, Teagan, and Samantha; and eight great-grandchildren: Anita, Reid, Jacob, Carver, Brier, Colton, Dahlia, Harlan. Rene was a man of strong faith and maintained a deep respect for the Lord. Rene and Jackie would start and end each day with a prayer. His life centered around the Church, family, and friends. Rene sang in the choir and in the folk group at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bowie, MD. He played guitar and led the congregation in song at St. Luke’s in Ocean City, MD. Rene enjoyed music, dancing, and laughter, playing piano and guitar, and sharing jokes. His gregarious personality and quick wit are what many will remember of Rene. His sharp mind often showed itself through his sense of humor. It was not uncommon for Rene to be the center of attention with his jokes or by leading some group game that eventually had all present laughing, which in turn, typically led to more hilarious jokes and fun. Rene enjoyed playing cribbage with his family and bridge with the Island Walk bridge groups and the Naples’ Neapolitan Men’s Bridge Club. He was a positive thinker and had many friends. About 40 years ago when living in Bowie, Rene and his wife and their children joined a Hunger Mass Group, consisting of about twenty-five local families. The purpose was to fast one day a week, share a meal consisting of a bowl of rice, and celebrate the Mass in the host’s home, donating the money that would have been spent on a regular meal. Rene served as treasurer of the group. When the group first met, Bishop Mundadan from Uttar Pradesh, at the foot of the Himalayas in India happened to be in town. He became the benefactor, using the donated funds to build wells back in India. When the Bishop visited the Washington Diocese, he always came to Bowie and shared a rice meal and celebrated Mass. Bishop Mundadan became a treasured friend. Rene was successful in his career as well. After serving in the Army, he returned home to work for the State of Rhode Island in its tax office. Next came examining Federal Credit Unions, mainly in the State of New Jersey and subsequently transferred to the Washington, DC office which brought the family to Bowie, Maryland. He continued to move up in his career to the Federal Reserve System, also in Washington, DC, to work with the Board's credit margin regulations. While there, he aced the Stonier Banking School program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where his thesis received honors and was published. Rene then became a thesis advisor and sat on the oral examination panels. He retired as the administrator of the Federal Reserve Bank’s national bank examiner training program. This became the job closest to his heart. He loved meeting new people including student bank examiners and instructors from all of the Federal Reserve Regional Banks. He coordinated assignments with top industry personnel who volunteered their time, knowledge, and unique experiences with the student classes. Many classes served the needs of attending foreign bank staffs. Rene visited and worked with all twelve Federal Reserve Bank staffs, as well as with developing foreign countries, several in French speaking West Africa where his native language came in handy on the job. After retiring from the Federal Reserve, Rene published a periodical newsletter for the Orthopedic Surgeons of America political action committee, but his heart was still with banking. He maintained his contacts with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as with the Federal Reserve. This resulted in numerous overseas contract assignments, typically to developing countries in Africa such as Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Sudan. Coincidentally, Rene started his career with credit unions and ended with credit unions. In 1999, he volunteered three weeks of his time in Moldova to help set up a functional credit union program in that country. A memorial service will be held at 10am, Monday December 13th at St. John the Evangelist, 625 111th Ave North, Naples, FL 34108. Eventually, Rene will be inurned at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Bowie, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the “Jamaica Outreach Program,” a program for which Rene and Jackie volunteered and required them to travel to Jamaica to work as volunteers. Checks can be made payable to St. John the Evangelist noting “JOP – in memory of Rene Lacoste” in the memo line and sent to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111th Avenue N, Naples, Florida 34108. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home, Family Owned Since 1978.

Rene W. Lacoste

July 24, 1929 - December 6, 2021