May 30, 1933 - May 24, 2020
Gene passed away peacefully in Abbotsford hospital after a brief illness.
Born in Alberta, he moved to Surrey at age 14 and spent his high school years in Cloverdale. He eventually obtained his MSc. in Microbiology and Immunology at UBC. This led him to a career as a professor of Health Sciences at BCIT where he enriched the studies of nursing and other health professional students for almost 30 years.
He led a rich and varied life. As an avid outdoors man, he was a Scout leader for many years. He had many adventures while working on the Hope-Princeton pipeline, and as an Industrial First Aid leader for a saw mill. Gene was also heavily involved with the RCMP auxiliaries in Richmond, which as a skilled marksman and outdoor survival expert led to interesting assignments, and was a consultant to the BC Coroner Service for many years, investigating the first AIDS death in BC.
Gene is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jenny, sons Gordon and Glen, and daughter-in-law, Cheryl.