Remembering Jesse Cannon, FAIA

We were saddened to hear that Jesse Cannon, Jr., FAIA, passed away on Saturday, February 13th, 2021 following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jesse was active and valued member of AIA New Orleans since 1974. Jesse advocated for, volunteered with, led committees, and chaired boards at both AIA New Orleans and AIA Louisiana. In 2013, Jesse was inducted into the AIA’s College of Fellows; and used his position to champion the FAIA/YAF Mentorship dinner program.

We invite you to share your own memories of Jesse Cannon by emailing us. We will share these memories on this page. 

View Jesse’s obituary here, and view tributes on the AIA Louisiana and LAF Facebook pages.

Remembrances of Jesse Cannon: 

Twenty years ago we arrived in Gulfport MS from New York to start work on the Federal Courthouse, a little bit fearful of the unknown, not knowing who or what we would find.  We need not have worried. We found Jesse, and he introduced us to the courts family, a congenial group. With Jesse’s help, we navigated the unknown, quickly made friends and worked with him over many years to get the courthouse built. He was a gentleman, and yes, a scholar, and a problem solver, someone we grew to respect and admire. We were delighted to stay in touch through all these years. 

He will be missed. 

-Frances Halsband

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I first met Jesse Cannon when I started engaging with AIA NOLA as a nominated board member.

As a young AIA board member without much experience Jesse showed me the benefits of engaging with the membership and profession in ways I never thought possible.  He was a personal mentor throughout my tenure of service and into the role I assumed with the New Orleans Architecture Foundation.

Before the lockdown of 2020 I often saw Jesse at events we both were interested in and he showed such grace and determination with his health battle that I was always in awe. He told me at an NOAF event point blank –

“Nick you need to get out more and you also need to make sure the NOAF realizes its potential to be a voice for the good in our community, and I don’t mean architects. You know what to do, time is so precious so go do what you know is right.”

I promised him then that I’d do what I could using the voice of the NOAF- and I intend to keep that promise.

-Nick Marshall