Brother Ricardo Gerard Gourrier, a counselor and member of the Josephite Society, died of congestive heart failure July 24 at Gilchrist Hospice Care. He was 61.

Born in New Orleans, he entered the Roman Catholic religious community in 1974 and served in Washington, D.C., Louisiana, Alabama and Delaware. He had lived in Baltimore for the past decade.

"Brother Ric was a big man with the bigger heart," said Father Edward Chiffriller, a fellow Josephite, who recalled him as "a man of the streets, the neighborhoods and the people. They all knew him."

His colleagues said he was an excellent chef, with expertise in Louisiana and New Orleans recipes.

"Less known, and deliberately, he kept his eye on the weak, infirm, elderly and sick in the neighborhoods to see they had enough good food to eat," said Father Chiffriller. "He cooked for those who couldn't cook or afford food, and hand delivered those meals himself. He continued his work as drug counselor for those who needed it."

A funeral Mass was offered at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on July 31.

Survivors include his mother, Edna Gourrier of Baltimore; five brothers, Michael Joseph Gourrier, Alfred Gourrier, Maurice Gourrier, Kevin Gourrier and Francis Gourrier; and four sisters, Mae Carol French, Yolanda Gourrier, Assunta Jackson and Ann Marie Bernal-Fernandez, all of Louisiana.

jacques.kelly@baltsun.com