Eddie Tebbe

Eddie was born on March 31, 1970 to Lynette Jerry and Henry Tebbe in New Orleans. He was born with cerebral palsy and as a child had to deal with misconceptions around disability. At every turn he strove to be independent and to live his life based on his abilities, not his limitations. Eddie graduated from The New Orleans Free School, Eleanor McMain Magnet High School and earned a BS in Education from the University of New Orleans. He went on to work for Families Helping Families, Agenda for Children, Gartrell Travel, and Hibernia Bank. He was a freelance writer, penning dozens of songs, poems, and short stories over the years. Many of his songs have been recorded by local musicians and can be seen performed live. His book “Sir Bone Funk: Living Life in the Key of Triumph” was published in 2020. In his mid-30’s Eddie discovered he had inherited Huntington’s Disease for which there is currently no cure, and this was the condition which ultimately took his life. He faced his Huntington’s progression like he faced everything else – with determination to live life to the fullest, fight off discouragement and depression, and take each day one at a time. It was after his diagnosis that he co-wrote the song, “Laugh While You’re Dying.” More than anything, Eddie loved live music and his New Orleans community. Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, nights at the Maple Leaf, d.b.a., Tipitina’s, Chickie Wah Wah, and so many other local spots brought him a great deal of joy. If you visited him at his house, you’d always find him listening to WWOZ or playing one of his hundreds of CDs. Even as his disease progressed, Eddie was going to multiple live local shows per night most nights of the week. Eddie loved to play cards, shoot pool, and compete in a weekly trivia game at Hooters where he reveled in the challenge and his many wins. Traveling was also a big part of his life. He felt it greatly widened his perspective. Eddie traveled to all fifty states, as well as across Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Egypt. Eddie is preceded in death by his mother Lynette Jerry, his father's partner Carl Ricketts, brother Hank Tebbe, and grandparents Henry and Mary Tebbe and Lyndon and Edward Jerry. He is survived by his father Henry L Tebbe Sr., sister Tara (Dionne Ducote), his lifelong best friend Jennifer, and his beloved niece Allison (Matt Wilson) and nephew Henry Lyon. Eddie is also survived by the enormous community of close friends and relatives who he loved so much and who loved him dearly. He really did live life “in the key of triumph.” Per Eddie’s wishes an appropriately large and musical celebration of life is being planned. Details will be widely shared once they are confirmed.