Shirley Sandoval Brocato

My mother, Shirley Audrey Sandoval Akers Brocato, lived an amazing life.

Born on September 11th, 1926 in New York City, she passed away on November 3, 2025, in Baton Rouge, LA, at the age of 99 years old.

Shirley was the oldest of 4 children born to Josefa and Elliott Sandoval, both of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Lester (deceased), Howard (deceased) and Rosalyn (Schultze). She also had an older half brother, Elliott J. Sandoval (deceased).

Raised in New York City, Shirley attended NYU from 1943-1945. She then attended Oklahoma University where she received her BS in Geology. She met Wilburn H. Akers, a graduate of OU and a geology graduate student. They married on Christmas day in 1946 and headed to Boston where Wilburn (known as Bill) was working on his PhD. Their first child, Glenn was born in New York City in late 1947.

Now with a family to support, Bill was hired as a Paleontologist with California Standard Oil (later to become Chevron Oil Company) and they relocated to New Orleans, LA. In 1951, Denise was born followed by Robert in 1953.

As a mother of 3, she spent much of her time with school activities like the PTA and room mother. She also was Denise’s Brownie and Girl Scout leader for 4 years; Cub Scout Den mother for 6 years to Robert, and a member of the Gentilly Woods Woman’s Club. She served as the Arts and Crafts Chairman for 6 years. In her spare time, she sewed most of Denise’s clothes and loved to work on numerous crafts. She also was a wonderful cook. Her spaghetti sauce, pot roast and pepper steak recipes still circulate within the family!

When Glenn started Tulane University, she began teaching at a new public high school in New Orleans East named Abramson Senior High. She taught Mechanical Drawing, Architectural Drawing and Earth Science for 3 years. She also did some consulting paleontology work for a local geology company. Later she would work as a museum curator for the Louisiana State Museum (The Cabildo and Presbytere) located in the French Quarter.

After 27 years of marriage, she and Bill divorced. Within a few years, she married Joseph M. Brocato, M.D. They were married for over 20 years before his death in 1999. Together they lived in Jackson, LA; St. Francisville and finally settled in Baton Rouge.

Shirley was a very talented lady. She was an incredible seamstress. She made her children’s unique costumes for Mardi Gras, Halloween and other occasions. She made beautiful outfits for Denise. Making bedspreads, curtains and recovering the sofas kept her busy well into the night. One of her favorite hobbies was buying fabric. But, it is her collection of buttons that was unusual. She always thought she would make something one day and need that perfect button! Of course, I still have her many canisters of buttons, all sorted by color. Her real passion was crafts of all sorts; she loved needlework and crocheting. Her hobbies also included studying architecture, costumes, textiles and Louisiana history. She loved researching and visiting plantation homes. She was an avid reader and loved the library. She enjoyed traveling and especially visiting museums. Some of her favorite destinations included Spain, France, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rico, Hawaii and of course Puerto Rico. There were only a handful of states she had not visited. She also spoke and read Spanish fluently. Later in life, she became a founding member of Lagnaippe (now known as Olli at LSU) and joined the Baton Rouge Chapter of Ikebana International (Japanese flower arranging). She also belonged to Baton Rouge Little Theater.

Family was of the utmost importance to her. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister, nieces, nephews and cousins all were an important part of her life. She is survived by her 3 children, Dr. Glenn Akers, Denise Akers (married to Johnny D. Pourciau) and Robert Akers (married to Linda). Her grandchildren Allison LeBlanc, Greg Akers, Kimberly Pearson, Adriana Akers and Dylan Akers were her pride and joy. She was very lucky to have loving great-grandchildren Layne LeBlanc, Brady LeBlanc, Beau Pearson, Cooper Pearson, Alexander Akers, Bailey Wells and Casey Wells. Her sister, Rosalyn held a special place in her heart. Her two brothers, Lester and Howard loved to tease her as kids and adults. That was okay, she just laughed at them. Her nieces and nephews have fond memories of her, usually remembering a book she gave them. Her sister-in-law, Rose Ann Sandoval, and many cousins in Puerto Rico, were very special to her. Her second cousin, Elsa Barroso, always remembered her birthday and still talks about every detail of a visit to Baton Rouge to see her over 20 years ago. Shirley was a remarkable tourist guide and loved to show visitors Louisiana.

She loved animals, especially dogs, and was always sneaking treats to them. She made dog beds and blankets for several of my dogs. She called them her granddogs and loved caring for them. Feeding the birds that she watched from her kitchen window was a daily activity. She kept sacks of birdseed in her pantry.

Shirley had some dear friends over the years. There are too many to mention and unfortunately, all have passed away. But, Alice Fortner, Joyce Siegel, Billie Hyde, Dot Scott, Lola Armistead and Rose Lito are names I will never forget. Whether it was traveling, attending Olli or Ikebana, crafting together, eating out or just talking on the phone, these were ladies that loved her like a sister. They made a huge difference in her life and I am forever grateful for the joy they brought her.

I want to thank Hospice of Baton Rouge and the wonderful nurses and staff that provided her care for the past 5 months. Her private caregivers over the last 17 years of her life were many. I cannot thank them enough for the dedication and love they gave to her. But, I have to mention Ruby, Norma, Marie, Kelly, Monica, Desiree, Diamond and Faye for the special love and care they provided. Thank you to David Sledge, M.D., her physician of many years who was always there when she and I needed him.

A private memorial will be held in the near future to celebrate her life. If you desire, feel free to donate to Companion Animal Alliance, the animal shelter in Baton Rouge.

I have many special memories of my mother…a cup of hot tea several times a day; love and talent for shopping for bargains; our trips to NYC as kids to visit family; reading and collecting books; staying in touch with family all her life; loving dogs; a perfectionist at everything she did. That was Shirley Brocato, my mother.