The Honorable Jay C. Zainey ’69 is Jesuit’s 2008 Alumnus of the Year.
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Homecoming Mass Audio: Listen to Fr. McGinn's
Introduction of Jay Zainey
(Total Run Time 2:43)
| Homecoming Mass Audio: Listen to Jay Zainey's
Address to Alumni
(Total Run Time 9:47)
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The Honorable Jay C. Zainey, a 1969 graduate of Jesuit High School who is a tireless champion for people with special needs, as well as a staunch advocate for the homeless, has been named the school’s 2008 Alumnus of the Year.
The award is given annually to an outstanding alumnus who is recognized for his achievements and distinguished service, either to Jesuit or the community-at-large, and in many instances, both. Judge Zainey received the award at Homecoming Mass for Jesuit alumni on Sunday, October 12 in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on the school’s campus. A jazz brunch and reception followed in the Student Commons. “Jay Zainey embodies the Jesuit ideal of being a ‘Man for Others’ and we are proud to honor him as our Alumnus of the Year,” said Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., president of Jesuit High School. “He has always set the bar high by working in a professional and ethical manner, while channeling his enormous energies into several humanitarian projects which have improved the lives of people, especially those with special needs in our community.”
Judge Zainey, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in February 2002 to the federal bench for the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, was characteristically humble upon learning that he is Jesuit’s Alumnus of the Year. “I was truly taken aback because there are many Jesuit graduates who are true ‘men for others,’” said Judge Zainey. “Many of these Blue Jays are working in the trenches everyday to improve the lives of others but receive no recognition for the wonderful work they do for their fellow men and women. I accept this honor on their behalf. I also express my gratitude and thanks to my parents and all the priests, scholastics, and lay teachers who gave me such an outstanding education at Jesuit High School.” While a student at Jesuit High School from 1965-1969, Zainey took part in activities and organizations
Jay Zainey’s senior photo in the 1969 Yearbook
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that provided a strong foundation for his community and charitable involvement, including the Sodality, the Cabinet, and the Philelectic Society. Additionally, he was an altar server and a reporter for the student magazine, The Blue Jay. A devout Catholic who attends Mass daily, Judge Zainey is married to the former Joy Haik. They have three children, Margaret Z. Roux, Christopher (a 2001 Jesuit alumnus), and Andrew, who was born 20 years ago with autism and special needs and who is lovingly described by the Zainey family as “God’s special gift.”
Throughout his professional life, Judge Zainey has been involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, often creating practical, unique organizations designed to assist people who need help, including people with special needs, the homeless population, and lawyers confronted with a crisis or personal family tragedy.
Judge and Mrs. Zainey are the co-founders and motivating forces behind St. Andrew’s Village, a faith-based, long-term private campus living community on the North Shore where adults with developmental disabilities will be able to live, work, worship, and socialize throughout their lifelong journey. St. Andrew's Village will be the first long-term living community of its kind to serve people with special needs in the state of Louisiana. Judge Zainey serves as president of this non-profit organization. The idea for St. Andrew’s Village came from another project, God’s Special Children, which the Zaineys started in 2004 to assist Andrew and other people with special needs in fully experiencing their Catholic faith. God’s Special Children facilitates a monthly Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church on Metairie Road. Additionally, the program also assists with preparation and receipt of the sacraments, bible study, parents’ retreats, and a buddy program in which members of Catholic youth ministries and Catholic high school students interact with special needs children. When Judge Zainey read about the Harry Tompson Homeless Center in the Immaculate Conception Church bulletin in 2004, he formed Homeless Experience Legal Protection (HELP), a program designed to provide free legal consultation and notary services at homeless shelters throughout the New Orleans area. Through Judge Zainey’s initiative, HELP chapters in 15 cities around the country are now assisting the homeless with obtaining their birth certificates, identification cards, and social security benefits. An outgrowth of HELP has been the recent start-up of a pilot program in which law students from Loyola University’s School of Law visit homeless centers in the area to assist people in applying for social security benefits.
In an effort to provide services and support to members of the legal community who experience family tragedies, Judge Zainey co-founded SOLACE in 2002. SOLACE filled an important role in assisting attorneys and their families who were displaced by hurricanes in finding housing and office space and replacing office furniture and law books.  | At the Alumnus of the Year dinner,
Fr. McGinn presents a special medallion to the Hon. Jay C. Zainey ’69,
who is Jesuit’s 2008 honoree. |
Prior to his appointment as federal judge, Zainey was active in the Louisiana State Bar Association, serving as its president in 1995-1996. During his tenure, Zainey established a committee – the first of its kind in the country for a state bar association -- to provide legal referral services for the disabled. He also created the Community Involvement Committee, which brings together members of the bar to work on common philanthropic causes. Currently, Judge Zainey is on the executive board of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, secretary-treasurer of the Pro Bono Project, and is a member of the American Bar Association’s Hurricane Katrina Task Force. He wrote a chapter for Lawyers Working to End Homelessness, a book recently published by that organization’s Commission on Homelessness and Poverty. Judge Zainey holds the distinction of being a Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation and is also active in the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association. Additionally, he is a frequent guest speaker to judges, attorneys, and law students across the country on ethics, professionalism, and providing pro bono legal services. Judge Zainey has received numerous awards for his philanthropy and dedication to community work. Most recently, he was a recipient of the Homines Pro Aliis Award, given by the Jesuit Southern Province for his work at the Harry Tompson Homeless Center. He also has received the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Jurist Award. Judge Zainey was presented with the Humanitarian Award for Distinguished Leadership from Unity for the Homeless of Greater New Orleans, an umbrella organization comprised of social service agencies which advocate on behalf of the homeless. Judge Zainey holds an undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from the Louisiana State University School of Law. He was a practicing attorney in the New Orleans area from 1976 up until his appointment to the federal bench.
From the 1969 Jesuit Yearbook... 
As vice-president of the altar boys in his senior year, Jay Zainey is front row, left.
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Alumnus of the Year Recipients 1958 Edwin W. Toribio ’34* 1959 Honorable Leo B. Blessing ’27* 1960 C. Ellis Henican ’22* 1961 Honorable Robert A. Ainsworth, Jr. ’27* 1962 G. Gernon Brown ’20* 1963 John C. Paquette ’25* 1964 Leon Sarpy ’24* 1965 Henry P. Dupre ’25* 1966 Charles L. Dufour ’21* 1967 Most Rev. Joseph G.Vath, D.D. ’34* 1968 A. Louis Read ’32* 1969 Robert R. Barkerding, Sr. ’34* 1970 Honorable Moon Landrieu ’48 1971 Peter P. Finney, Sr. ’45 1972 Honorable James E. Fitzmorris, Jr. ’39 1973 Clayton J. Charbonnet ’38* 1974 Joseph S. Childress ’35* 1975 William R. Brown, Jr. ’29* 1976 Clement Betpouey, Jr. ’24* 1977 Joseph W. McCarron ’37* 1978 Charles I. Denechaud, Jr. ’31* 1979 Honorable Thomas A. Casey, Sr. ’48 1980 Rev. Msgr. Arthur T. Screen ’34* 1981 Emmett M. Fitzpatrick ’45 1982 Raymond S. Rizzo ’32* 1983 Hon. Adrian G. Duplantier ’45* |
1984 Curtis P. Rome, Jr. ’53
1985 Owen E. Brennan, Jr.’52 1986 John J. Dardis ’59 1987 Stephen B. Rodi ’32* 1988 Ardley R. Hanemann, Jr. ’61 1989 Dr. Joseph P. Licciardi, Jr. ’53 1990 J. Michael Early ’33 1991 Daniel J. (Rusty) Staub ’61 1992 Robert L. Perez ’61 1993 Milton J. Retif, Sr. ’51 1994 J. Garic Schoen ’38 1995 Frank B. Stewart, Jr. ’53 1996 Robert F. Talbot, Jr. ’55 1997 Marcel Garsaud, Jr. ’50 1998 Robert H. Boh ’47 1999 Peter R. Quirk ’54 2000 Michael O. Read ’61 2001 Michael E. Nolan ’63 2002 Ashton J. Ryan, Jr. ’65 2003 Donald C. Wetzel ’46 2004 Most Rev. John C. Favalora ’54 2005 Arthur S. Mann ’64
2006 W. James Amoss ’65
2007 Michael H. Rodrigue ’71
2008 Hon. Jay C. Zainey ’69 * Deceased
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