Civic activist, businesswoman Cheryl Teamer dies at 58
30th August 2021 · 0 Comments
By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer
Cheryl Teamer, a respected lawyer, businesswoman, civic activist and government worker, has died. She was 58.
Teamer’s brother, Roderic Teamer Sr., found her unresponsive at her home on the morning of August 21. The cause of death is currently unknown.
Teamer came from an accomplished family. Her father, Dr. Charles C. Teamer Sr., was a senior vice president of Dillard University and is a current member of the Audubon Commission and Vice Chairman of the Board at First NBC Bank. Her mother, the late Mary Teamer, founded Dillard University’s women’s basketball team. Her nephew, Roderic Jr., is a defensive back for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. She is also survived by her brother Charles Jr.
Teamer wore many hats in her life. After earning her law degree from Tulane University in 1989, she worked as an attorney for the state House of Representatives Committee on Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs. She spent eight years working for Marc Morial as a chief legislative lobbyist and head of intergovernmental affairs during Morial’s tenure as mayor of New Orleans. She moved on to practice law with Adams & Reese before becoming vice president for governmental relations for Harrah’s Entertainment Group. She then founded the Teamer Strategy Group.
Since 2014, Teamer has served as New Orleans & Company’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. Stephen Perry, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company, released a statement about Teamer on the New Orleans & Company website.
“Cheryl had one of the biggest hearts I have ever known,” Perry said. “Our loss is immeasurable professionally and emotionally…Cheryl was not just the consummate professional chairing major boards and serving as a senior executive in our company, but she always lived with grace, integrity and passion and her loss is incalculable.”
In a 2014 interview with Irvin Mayfield Jr. at the University of New Orleans (available on YouTube), Teamer spoke of trusting her own instincts when choosing her new projects and professional adventures.
“Some people use the term ‘gut check.’ You just know it,” Teamer said. “First of all, you’ve got to keep your lights on. It’s got to be something you can afford to do, but I think you have to trust yourself.”
In the same interview, Teamer also spoke of the importance of always growing from every new experience.
“Nobody expects you to be perfect, but every experience you have should be a learning experience, it should be a positive experience whether you feel that way at the time,” Teamer said.
Teamer was also a chairperson of the New Orleans Aviation Board and worked on developing the new Louis Armstrong International Airport. She also served on the boards of a variety of organizations including the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Young Audiences, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Chamber of Commerce for New Orleans and the River Region.
In 2014, Teamer, who was active in community organizations throughout her life, told Mayfield that her parents greatly influenced her devotion to civic and charitable work.
“My father used to tell us all the time that service is the rent you pay for the life that you lead,” Teamer said. “If you are fortunate, if you are given certain opportunities, then you owe it to the world you live in…to pay it forward, to give back, to reach back.”
Teamer did not receive attention solely for her professional and charitable work. She also loved building dollhouses, and a 2013 article in The Times-Picayune showcased her hobby. At the time, she was building a 29-inch-tall dollhouse depicting domestic life in 1840s New Orleans. The setting was a home of nine Creole-free women of color preparing for a New Year’s Eve Reveillon dinner.
Jeffrey Brooks, a partner at Adams & Reese, worked with Teamer at the law firm and knew her for over 20 years. He said Teamer had a talent for understanding people and relating to them. That skill suited her well in politics.
“Politics can be learned, but some people have a natural talent and she had that talent,” Brooks said. “People trusted Cheryl.”
Brooks also described Teamer as a thoughtful friend. When Brooks’ daughters were born, Teamer sent heartfelt notes and baby gifts.
“She was brilliant politically, had a great legislative mind, but she was an even better person,” Brooks said. “She had a zest for life and she was incredibly well-liked.”
Tributes to Teamer appeared across Twitter. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu called her a friend. New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett called her a friend and mentor.
Former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu wrote: “She was a blessing to her family and to our city through many decades of service and civic leadership. I am grateful for her friendship and was glad to be with her just a few weeks ago in NOLA.”
This article was originally published in the August 30, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
