Clinton Montz, Jr

Mr. Clinton “Clint” Montz, Jr. passed gently Monday, January 29th on a beautiful, sunny morning as he stopped to pick a flower in the courtyard at his home in Christwood Retirement Community in Covington, Louisiana. He was 89.

Clint is survived by his four sons: Clinton Montz, III of New Orleans, LA; Mark J. Montz of Ponchatoula, LA; Rodney J. Montz of Jackson, Missouri; and, Wallace F. Montz of Olympia, WA; and, their spouses; Ze da Luz, Megan Montz, Jennifer Montz and Jodi Flaherty. His former wife and mother of his children, JoAnn Marinello Sellers, preceded him in death. His endearing spirit will forever be cherished by his seven loving grandchildren: Hope M. Montz of Los Angeles, CA; Noah T. Montz of Olympia, WA; Kelsie B. Montz and Zachary W. Montz of Ponchatoula, LA; and, Miles J. Montz, Adelynn G. Montz and Wylie O. Montz of Jackson, Missouri.

Clint was born on June 19, 1928 in New Orleans, LA to Mr. Clinton Charles Montz, Sr. and Mrs. Antoinette Campora Montz. They subsequently moved to Jackson, MS where Clint attended Jackson Central High School. Upon graduation, he attended Hinds Community College and Millsaps College in Mississippi then joined the United States Navy where he served with distinction aboard the USS Uhlmann throughout the Korean War. The Uhlmann’s homeport was Pearl Harbor, HI. There, Clint played bass with several local bands entertaining at officer’s clubs and off base at music venues across the islands. Following an honorable discharge, he returned to New Orleans where he worked as a musician touring with Louis Prima, Mose Allison, Stan Kenton, the Jack Jones Combo and others; and, occasionally recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s legendary J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans

Clint joined the Bank of New Orleans where he worked for 20 continuous years notably missing only one day of work in that period. He rose to become Sr. Vice President in charge of the installment loans division. He later worked as a senior executive with Commercial Bank of Metairie and First National Bank of Covington. Upon retiring from banking, Clint resumed a part-time music career in New Orleans performing with the likes of Steve Masakowski, his old bandmate, Bill Huntington, and several UNO Jazz Department student groups.

A celebration of Clint’s life will be held at 10:00am Monday, February 12th at Christwood Retirement Community, 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, Louisiana - reception to follow. Former Bank of New Orleans Employees, friends and family are invited to attend. His final resting place will be in the Montz family tomb on the grounds of St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans.