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Gene passed away in a motorcycle accident on May 17, 1993 while residing in Hawaii. He was 23 years old. Gene was in the Coast Guard Reserves and had just received his Officer Candidate appointment. He was attending the University of Hawaii and passed away the day after his last final exam, just a week prior to graduation.
He is buried next to his brother, Charles ('86), at the Hawaii Veteran's Cemetery in Kaneohe.
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Roberta Stott (1988)
Gene was the sweetest guy with the kindest smile. There were probably sibling quarrels, but I never remember hearing him say anything negative about his brother and sister. Gene, you are truly missed by so many people who love you...Sachi Utsunomiya (Hwangbo) (1989)
I remember Gene fondly from my high school experience. I didn't get to know Gene until my junior year at Zama. My good friend Edy Tominaga set us up on a date to go to his Senior Prom. I thought it would be awkward to go to prom night in Tokyo with somebody I barely knew, but he was so upbeat and likeable, we instantly became friends. I loved to go dancing with him because he had no reserve and would jump around wildly to his own beat. I won't forget the way he'd sing in the car to whatever song was playing, which was a lot of Air Supply at the time. Often he'd sing "Brass in Pocket" by the Pretenders. I never saw him again after I went to college, but we always kept in touch and stayed good friends. When Gene shared the news that he renewed his faith and was a born-again Christian, it was the last time I heard from him. I miss him dearly and my heart goes out to his family for their loss.