"Dinin' with Debbie" Initiative Supports Local Business and Musicians Amid the Pandemic

Pictured from left: Tarryn Walsh, Peter Sloss, Kelly Sloss, Cece Funck, Bob Murphy and Joey LoCicero.

This year, the holidays afforded Murphy Rogers the opportunity to both honor one of its treasured employees and provide support for local New Orleans treasures at the same time.

On November 30, 2020, the firm’s longtime office manager, Debbie LoCiciero, passed away after losing a hard-fought and years-long battle with cancer. She was a wonderful person, a trusted employee, a fantastic office manager, and a true friend to all of us at Murphy Rogers who had the privilege of knowing her over the past 30 or more years. In local lingo, Debbie could be wonderfully described as “Naturally N’Awlins” - outgoing, friendly, happy, kind, giving, genuine, warm and spunky!

With Debbie’s warm heart and willingness to help others as an inspiration, the firm found a way to honor her memory through another “Naturally N’Awlins” figure - local business owner Tina Welty, whose restaurant Welty’s Deli is a beloved lunchtime spot for the downtown New Orleans crowd (including those at the firm!). Much like Debbie, Tina’s welcoming smile makes her customers feel immediately at home, and the friendly atmosphere she has created in her restaurant provides a delightful lunchtime break.

Due to the pandemic-related decrease in downtown activity, Welty’s has been facing substantial financial difficulty, and recently became involved in a community feeding program, including for local musicians, after being interviewed by Marcus Lemonis, the host of CNBC’s reality business show “The Profit.”  The donation-based program not only feeds those in need in the Crescent City, but also helps the struggling restaurant pay its bills and stay afloat during these unprecedented times.

After learning of Welty’s program and its tie to the local music industry that Debbie loved, Murphy Rogers was able to strike just the right chord by making a contribution in Debbie’s honor, purchasing a few hundred meals so musicians in New Orleans could be “Dinin’ with Debbie.” Just before Christmas, several members of the firm helped label the meals with retro music-themed stickers, and the meals were delivered to The Howlin’ Wolf, a storied music venue in NOLA’s Warehouse District, for distribution.

If you would like to learn more about Welty’s meal program, which has been dubbed “Tina’s BadA$$ Meal Program,” details can be found here.