Gene passed away in his home on Sunday morning, May 18, 2014. His wife Kathleen, his daughter Amy and his son Zachary were at his side. He was 72.
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia on January 2, 1942, he was the eldest son of Bernard L. and Lillian G. (Bauer) Smith. Gene graduated from Wheeling Central High School and went to West Liberty University on an academic scholarship, majoring in history and English literature. After attending Georgetown Law School in Washington D.C., Gene worked for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank, also turning on and off the fountains there for the pleasure of his children. After years working in bank law, Gene began a career advocating for children and parents in Boston's family court system.
Gene is survived by six extraordinary siblings; Michael, Laura Jane, Jerry, Louis, Jack and Carolyn. His beloved brother Bill passed away in 1998.
Gene’s grandchildren brought him immense joy. They are Lilly and Caroline Clouter and Kira and Anya Smith.
Gene was instinctively generous and kind. He loved his family fiercely and was a sincere, constant cheerleader of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and in-laws. His face lit up whenever a child was nearby. We will remember his deep grasp of history, and his fundamental sense of compassion. His uninhibited sense of humor, whimsy and his infectious laugh endeared him to relatives and strangers alike. Gene was a voracious reader, a lover of poetry, geology, opera and classical music. Few subjects escaped his interest and even fewer people walked away from him without feeling encouraged to pursue their own passions. He played quarterback early and often, became a licensed pilot, and coached his children’s baseball and soccer teams. Gene was a devoted father and husband. We will miss him dearly and think of him often.
A memorial service to honor this remarkable man will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Providence on 1 Benevolent Street in Providence, Rhode Island on May 31, 2014 at 11 a.m. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to The Children's Home of Wheeling, Inc. at 1 Orchard Rd, Wheeling, WV 26003.