Peter A. Haspel of Henleyfield, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana passed away on June 25, 2016 at 5:15 a.m. He was 76 years old and died from cancer related complications, his beloved wife by his side.
Mr. Haspel was born March 10th, 1940 at Hotel Dieu in New Orleans to Muriel and Leo Haspel. He grew up in Old Metairie along with his older sister Barbara Haspel Gayley. He attended Metairie Park Country Day School and then the Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and was an active member of the ZBT fraternity.
Mr. Haspel served in the Navy
for four years collecting intelligence
as a photographer during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At the conclusion of his Naval service, he was offered a command post with his own ship but declined, opting to join Haspel Brothers, the family garment manufacturing business. Founded by great-uncle Joseph Haspel, Sr. in 1909, Mr. Haspel worked alongside his father, serving as vice-president, and took pride in representing the brand that brought seersucker to America. Working in the New York office, he helped to make Haspel a staple in American fashion, leaving its mark on fashion history.  When the company sold in 1977, Mr. Haspel pursued other fashion ventures in New York, Miami, and in New Orleans. He retired from the industry in the late 1990’s, but became an active community volunteer. He served two terms as president of Planned Parenthood of Louisiana, and was an active board member with the LSU Department of Psychiatry, the Contemporary Arts Center, and Haspel and Davis Milling and Planting.
He was a lover and collector of fine arts, especially Shunga and
other forms of Asian art.  He was a world traveler, connoisseur of classic movies and music, an avid fisherman, and a conspicuous wearer of distinctive and exceptional socks.  He loved to cook and was known as the “gourmet padre” for his love of fine foods of the world.
His friends and loved ones have used many adjectives to describe him, among them being debonair, witty, wry, charming, wickedly funny, one-of-a-kind, classy, refined, respectful, caring and generous. To his dearest friends and family he will always remain “The Rabbit”.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Lynn Yarbrough Haspel, his daughters Ashley and Samantha Haspel, Dorothy Hawkins (John), a son Leigh Allen (Jennifer) and seven grandchildren Leo Myers, Jack, Henry and Miles Hawkins, Stella, Lucy and Bennett Allen and a sister Barbara Haspel Gayley and her family.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to Dr. Oliver Sartor, Ron Stein, NP-C, Dr. Ashwin Vasudevmarthy, Cynthia Huber-Koppen, and the RN’s of the TATU unit at Tulane University Hospital who lovingly cared for the whole family during Mr. Haspel’s final days.
The family will hold a private family service with an additional celebration of life for family and friends to be held at the Haspel residence in early September.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Tulane Cancer Center c/o Oliver Sartor, MD, Box SL-42, Tulane Medical School, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 or Planned Parenthood of Louisiana.
Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Online memorials at www.tharpsontheimerfh.com.