Patrick Caffery Sr., a longtime lawyer who formerly served as a U.S. representative, died Tuesday in New Iberia at age 81.

Caffery, a native of Franklin, studied at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, before earning his law degree from Louisiana State University in 1956, while he served as managing editor of the Louisiana Law Review.

In 1957 he became a member of the New Iberia law firm Helm, Simon, Caffery and Duhe. Caffery practiced for many years with John M. Duhe Jr. and Eugene Davis at the law firm Caffery, Duhe and Davis.

Caffery served as an assistant district attorney for the 16th Judicial District from 1958 to 1962. He was elected as a state representative in 1964 and served until 1968 when he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives until 1973.

Caffery returned to practice law in New Iberia, which he did for several years. Lewis Pitman of Pitman Broussard law firm said he remembers the day Caffery hired him for his first job as a lawyer after graduating from law school in 1982.

“This was the gentleman who had just recently been in the House of Representatives. His reputation was known to everyone in the area,” Pitman said.

Pitman said he worked with Caffery for nine years, during which the senior attorney taught him how to excel at his profession.

“He taught me how to be an attorney. The success I enjoy today is all through him,” he said.

Caffery also was a businessman who was passionate about law, Pitman said. He called the former congressman “honest and intelligent.” Caffery taught him to keep his word and never to rush when working to avoid mistakes.

“He was the best attorney I’ve ever met. I don’t think anyone will argue with me on that point,” Pitman said. “I’m going to miss the gentleman.”

Patrick Caffery Jr. said he and his brothers share many memories of their father, but overall his father was “a man of the people.”

The elder Caffery served in several civic organizations, including president of New Iberia Community Chest, first president of the New Iberia United Givers Fund, president of the Iberia Crippled Children’s Association, president of the Rotary Club and Iberia District Commissioner of the Boy Scouts.

Son Michael Caffery said his father, an established trumpeter, also was involved in the Iberia Community Band for several years. His father’s love of music earned the elder Caffery a music scholarship to SLI and helped to establish his work in the revival of Bunk Johnson in New Iberia.

Sixteenth Judicial District Judge Charles Porter said he worked with Caffery both professionally and in his civic commitments, including trying to spread the history and music of jazz musician and New Iberia native Bunk Johnson.

Caffery was instrumental in talking to Harold Drob, a fan who promoted Bunk Johnson in New York, Minnesota and other areas across the country, Porter said. He said Caffery worked with him and helped secure materials for the Bunk Johnson collection at the Iberia Parish Library.

Porter said he met Caffery more than 30 years ago and grew closer once the two started working on the Bunk Johnson revival in 1998. He said he was a great community leader who will be especially missed in the art and music community.

“I enjoyed the many moments talking about, planning for and doing some work in the arts community to establish the name recognition with Bunk Johnson and others,” Porter said. “I think he will be sorely missed in this area of the community, as well as others.

“We loved and adored his work and time on the planet. We will mourn his loss,” he said.

Caffery is survived by his wife, Anne Bercegeay Caffery; sons Patrick T. Caffery Jr., Kevin M. Caffery and Michael M. Caffery; and several other family members. His funeral is schedule for 1 p.m. Saturday at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia.

Patrick T Caffery