June 5, 1913 - November 17, 2014

Alphonse John Guma, Jr. a retired music teacher, died on Monday, November 17, 2014, at his home. He was 101 years old. A life-long resident of New Orleans, Mr. Guma was a graduate of Samuel Peters High School and the Loyola College of Music. After a brief time in the accounting department at Standard Oil of Louisiana, he began teaching part-time at the Isidore Newman School in 1942 where he formed the school's first high school band with just six students. Over the years, the band program grew with a large elementary school band and a high school band of over sixty. Mr. Guma became chairman of the school's Fine Arts Department. He retired from Newman in 1978.

While teaching full-time at Newman, he also created band programs at several parochial schools, including Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Rita's, and St. Anthony's, and he taught guitar at Werlein's for Music. Survivors include two sons, Alan John Guma of Bronxville, New York and Michael Joseph Guma of Metairie, a daughter, Ginger Guma of Metairie, eight grandchildren: Mark Frederick Guma of New York City, Elinor Cecile Coiro of Yonkers, New York, Neal Thomas Guma of Farmville, Virginia, Matthew Everett Guma of Brooklyn, New York, Amanda Kate Guma of San Francisco, California, Lora Dorothy Shea of Pearland, Texas, Michelle Martha-Marie Theriot of Abita Springs, Louisiana, and Virginia Fraser Romero of Metairie, Louisiana. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren: Charlotte and Amelia Theriot, Sarah and Hannah Shea, Skyler and Mia Romero, and Max, Jamie, and Pace Guma.

The family would like to thank Regina Handy, Audrey Perkins, Brenda Williams, Corinthia Reaux, and Dr. Jennifer Bertsch for their compassionate care.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery