Thomas Day founded Teche Drugs on Jefferson Street in 1970; he died Tuesday at the age of 70 after complications from spinal surgery.
Though Day sold the pharmacy portion of Teche Drugs about five years ago, he continued to operate The Gift Shoppe and children’s store. Day, who was originally from Columbia, La., played a pivotal role in the redevelopment of Downtown Lafayette and was a Downtown Lafayette Unlimited board member. He also was one of the first Downtown Lafayette business owners to convert office space, using the second floor of his pharmacy, into residential apartments during the early 1990s.
"This is a shock and a real loss to all of us Downtown," says IND Co-Publisher Cherry Fisher May. "Tom has been a champion of Downtown revitalization from the earliest days of the renaissance, setting an example on both the commercial and residential side of development. He was a true leader and bold investor in Lafayette's future."
Day also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a captain of Medical Services and as assistant chief pharmacist at Valley Forge General Hospital.
Day’s funeral will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at La Chapelle de Martin & Castille in Lafayette with visitation starting at noon. Memorial contributions can be made in Day’s name to either the Carmelite Monastery (1250 Carmel Ave., Lafayette, LA 70501) or the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (3434 N I-10 Service Road, Suite 300, Metairie, LA 70002).