SVdP Community Pharmacy remembers dedicated staff member
Mertes Troullier, noted New Orleans pharmacist and member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteer pharmacy staff, died on Sunday, December 25th while visiting family in Birmingham, Alabama. He was 79. Troullier not only dispensed drugs, but also trained young New Orleanians for the profession. A life-long resident of the Crescent City, Troullier graduated from Gilbert Academy and Xavier University's College of Pharmacy. He served as a pharmacist for 25 years-which included working at the Circle Drug Store, which was located in the Circle Food Store, the landmark that was a linchpin of the New Orleans' African-American community. He then worked as a clinical pharmacist for the state Dept. Health and Hospitals for 10 years and worked in the Head Start Program's Annual Parent Training Workshop.
During the past year, Troullier helped the SVdP Community Pharmacy dispense medication to the homeless, elderly and poor residents of the city of New Orleans. In his role as preceptor for the Xavier College of Pharmacy, Troullier helped some 200 students transition from the classroom to the pharmacy. He was named Outstanding Preceptor in 1990, and was named Unsung Hero in 1994 by the Crescent City Chapter of the Links, a women's service organization. Troullier was laid to rest on December 30th at First Grace Methodist Church in New Orleans.