EUGENE L. “GENE” LECOMTE, INSURANCE PRESIDENT EMERITUS (IBHS)
DRACUT-Eugene L. “Gene” Lecomte, 77, a resident of Dracut and formerly a longtime resident of Billerica, died Saturday, March 10th at home after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Patricia J. (Welenc) Lecomte with whom he was married for 46 years.
He was born on October 2, 1929 in Roxbury, and was raised in Medford and Belmont, a son of the late Eugene F. and the late Ymelda (La Bossiere) Lecomte. He graduated from Medford High School in the class of 1947; he graduated with honors from Northeastern University in 1959. Mr. Lecomte was a United States Army veteran serving as a Sergeant in the 1st Armored Division and the 28th Infantry Division, in the Korean Conflict from 1951 until 1953.
Gene worked for Kemper Insurance Company from 1947 until 1972; his last position was New England Fire Claim Manager and General Adjuster. In 1972, he joined The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association and the Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association as their General Manager. In 1978, Mr. Lecomte joined the Massachusetts Automobile Rating and Accident Prevention Bureau and the Massachusetts Workers Compensation Rating Bureaus as the President and CEO. In 1980, he became President and CEO of the National Committee on Property Insurance and Property Insurance Plans Service Office. Mr. Lecomte founded, was President and CEO of the Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction (IIPLR). He also served as Executive Director of the Earthquake Project. IIPLR later became the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. After more than 52 years of service in the insurance industry Mr. Lecomte retired as President Emeritus (IBHS) on December 31, 1998.
Gene was Chairman of the Friends of the Billerica Council on Aging, Inc. Capitol Fundraising Committee. He served as President of the Friends of Billerica Council on Aging, Inc. from March 2004 until February 2006. Mr. Lecomte has served as a Massachusetts Notary Public for more than two decades.
He received the FEMA Directors Outstanding Public Service Award in 1996 and the Town of Billerica named the Eugene L. Lecomte Senior Citizen of the Year Award; which will be given in May for the 1st time on an annual basis. He was an avid sports fan, especially of football and hockey. In his free time he enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends, and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Suzanne M. McLean and her husband David of Dracut, Laurie J. Rauseo and her husband Edward of Methuen and Sara E. Landry and her husband Brian of Nashua, NH; seven grandchildren, Michael, Stephen and Kathryn McLean, Edward Rauseo, Jr. and Megan Rauseo, George and Grace Landry; a mother-in-law, Mrs. Jean (Lobasz) Welenc of Billerica; a sister-in-law, Carol (Roche) Lecomte of Andover; several nephews and nieces and many dear friends.
His late brother John, three years his junior, graduated from Medford High School, Tufts College and Boston University Law School. A distinguished student John was an editor of the prestigious Boston University Law Review and later an outstanding trial lawyer.
Friends may call at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Avenue, DRACUT on Wednesday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. His Funeral will be held from the funeral home on Thursday at 9:00 AM, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Kathryn Church in Hudson, NH. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Friends of Billerica Council on Aging, Capitol Fundraising Committee, P.O. Box 482, Billerica, MA 01821 or the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack Street, Building 9C, Lawrence, MA 01843.