St. Bernard Parish’s premier Mardi Gras parade, Knights of Nemesis, will roll down West Judge Perez Drive on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.

This is the krewe’s sixth anniversary, beginning in 2006 as proof that Chalmette survived Hurricane Katrina.

Royalty this year will be Royal Knight, Dr. Bryan Bertucci, and Goddess Nemesis, Jackie Bennett Gaeta.

Come Saturday Bertucci is going to be all smiles.

He is a lifelong resident of St. Bernard Parish, and graduate of Jesuit High School. Above his desk at the Chalmette Medical Center — along with a dozen photos of family and friends strewn across a bulletin board — is a plaque from the American Academy of Family Practice reading, “President’s Recognition Award, Outstanding Service to St. Bernard Parish Medical Community, Hurricane Katrina 2005.” After surviving the storm, and then the BP oil spill in 2010, Bertucci said it’s time for St. Bernard to move on. That is why he chose his superhero costume to be covered in smiling faces.

“We’re not the same parish that we were,” said Bertucci. “And I’ll always cherish the one that we had.”

Bertucci has served with distinction on the staff of eight different hospitals in South Louisiana, and is currently the St Bernard Parish Coroner. He is married to Ruth Frey Bertucci (36 years) and the proud father of their five children, Theresa Bertucci Truxillo, Bryan Jr, Stephen, Nicholas, and Matthew.

Jackie Bennett Gaeta was also a lifelong resident of St. Bernard Parish until Hurricane Katrina destroyed her home in Chalmette.

Gaeta’s father, Jack Henry Bennett, was instrumental in the formation of the original Knights of Nemesis. Bennett died in January 2008.

“[Being Goddess] was very special to me because my dad was one of the founding members and he passed away,” said Gaeta. “That meant a lot, that I was able to do this in honor of my dad.”

Despite living in Slidell, Gaeta continues to volunteer for community functions and organizations within St. Bernard Parish, including the local Make a Wish Foundation, and Nemesis events.

Gaeta was married to the late Michael Gaeta for 19 years, and is the mother of two children, Tasha Ann Gutierrez and Brandon Gaeta.

Mrs. Gaeta is the daughter of the late Jack Henry Bennett and Pamela Leah Timmons. She is a graduate of PGT Beauregard High School and attended Nunez Community College. Mrs. Gaeta is employed by Apollo Marine Specialties in New Orleans.