(As befits such an engaging, colorful friend, Eddie is remembered at a Facebook site named Eddie’s Exes (and lifelong friends).  Even if you didn’t know Eddie well, this site will convince you that you do, and should have known him as well as all these New Orleans friends.  Let’s hope many of the stories are true and some are not.)

KURTZ Edward C. Kurtz, Jr. Former documentary filmmaker, writer, community activist Edward C. Kurtz, Jr. passed away on January 12th after a brief illness. He was 66. He was the son of Marilyn Azcona Kurtz and the late Edward C. Kurtz, Sr. of New Orleans. Eddie was a renowned local public television documentary filmmaker and writer whose works focused on the unique New Orleans experience and chronicled the generation of the 1960s. Eddie was also an adjunct professor at Xavier University. Eddie’s public television documentaries included “The Danny Barker Show,” a biography of the great jazz musician Danny Barker; “This Cat Can Play Anything,” a biography about New Orleans legendary banjo player Manny Sayles; “Piano Players,” a documentary about three generations of New Orleans piano players; and “Which Governs Best” which analyzed the changing role of the U.S. government over the last century and its implications. Eddie also did freelance work and various video clips on New Orleans humorous characters for the television series “Real New Orleans.” His books include August in New Orleans, 1968, Singing for Supper and My Casanova. Eddie was one of the founding members of Tipitina’s and the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) and active in various social and educational causes including service on the boards and committees of the Louisiana SPCA, NOVAC, Boys Town, the Krewe of Barkus, and Krewe De Vieux. Eddie was a graduate of Jesuit High School in New Orleans and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from the University of Notre Dame and his Masters of Arts degree in Broadcasting and Film Production from San Francisco State University. Survivors include his mother, Marilyn Azcona Kurtz; three siblings, William Henry Kurtz (Shelley) of New Orleans, Debbie K. Prejeant (Wayne) of New Orleans, and Tommy J. Kurtz (Rachel) of Prairieville, LA; and four nieces and nephews, Christopher Kurtz of New Orleans, Justin Kurtz of Detroit, Sarah Kurtz and Dylan Kurtz of Prairieville; his cousins-the Byrd and Conforto families; his beloved dogs Golfree and Piper; and his many faithful and cherished friends. The Kurtz family has asked that donations be made in Eddie’s name to the Louisiana SPCA and the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC). The Kurtz family would like to thank the caring staff of the various facilities of the Ochsner Clinic Foundation, the LHC Group, and River Region Hospice. Funeral services will be private but a memorial chronicling his life’s literary and film contributions will be held next month by his professional colleagues and friends.
Published in The Times-Picayune from January 14 to January 16, 2013