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North shore DA Warren Montgomery dies at 68 after cancer fight

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. (WVUE) - Two-term North Shore District Attorney Warren Montgomery has died at age 68, his office announced Saturday (Nov. 11).

The notification was made by Collin Sims, Montgomery’s First Assistant in the 22nd Judicial District DA’s office, which prosecutes criminal cases in St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

“It is with tremendous sadness that I report the passing of District Attorney Warren Montgomery,” Sims said in a statement.

No cause of death was cited, but Montgomery told Fox 8 in February 2020 that he had undergone major surgery after being diagnosed with kidney and lung cancer in September 2019. His left kidney was removed, and Montgomery continued undergoing specialized treatment at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Montgomery said his experience taught him the value of life and the importance of annual checkups and kidney scans.

“Get your physical and kidney scan, especially if you’re male between 60 and 65,” he said in February 2020.

Montgomery, a former federal prosecutor from Metairie and graduate of New Orleans’ Jesuit High School, was first elected to his post in November 2014, taking office the following January. He was re-elected to another six-year term in November 2020.

“Warren Montgomery was a good man, who cared deeply about St. Tammany Parish,” Parish president Mike Cooper said. “Throughout his battle with cancer, he continued to work for our community. I had the honor of working alongside him to better our community. But, personally, he was a friend that I will miss dearly.

“Please join Catherine and me in praying for his wife, Valerie, his children, family, friends and his staff at the district attorney’s office. Our community is better because of Warren’s service.”

Sims will lead the office until a special election can be held to determine who will serve the remainder of Montgomery’s term.

The Montgomery family released a statement:

“We want to express our sincere gratitude for everyone who has offered us their well-wishes and prayers. We are truly humbled and thankful for the outpouring of support and love throughout the community. We are deeply saddened by this loss. Warren is an irreplaceable figure in our lives, as a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He will be greatly missed. We remember him first and foremost for his unshakable faith and love for God. He felt called to the role of District Attorney and lived by Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”. Even as he was ailing, Warren spoke of all he wished to accomplish for our community; he desired to continue as a public servant and a statesman for justice. We pray that his legacy continues to live on in the community. He was surrounded by friends and family throughout his fight with cancer, and especially in his final hours. The care received during the many phases of treatments at M.D. Anderson was remarkable and cannot go without mention. We are confident that he has been welcomed by many saints and loved ones in heaven.”

Montgomery is survived by his wife Valerie and their five children. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Almeda Bohannan

Update: 2024-05-06