My deepest condolences to Eugene's family.

My recollections include those of our mutual friend Manny Palustre. I lived at 718 Dean St. while Eugene lived at 738 Dean St.
Even though he was 6 months older than me we used to call on each other and play in each others houses and yards.  

Before Eugene got a car (in 1964) many a night he would ask his uncle if we could sit in his car. His uncle had a 1959 Ford and we thought that was great. Eugene had a 1953 or 1954 Ford that I remember we once rode in. 

As Manny said, we all lost touch due to changes in our lives or military service during the mid to late 60's.  Eugene and I both went into the Navy.  I served as a Machinist Mate on the USS Canberra, a heavy cruiser and as I recall Eugene served on a Destroyer Escort as an Engineman.  One year, while overseas in Vietnam we somehow found out our respective addresses and on one occasion we wrote to each other. 

That letter was the last contact we had with each other until years later.  In 1972 we met in an elevator at, I believe it was the Methodist Hospital, in Brooklyn. He was visiting Maureen who had just given birth to their first child and my wife and I were visiting our sister-in-law who had just given birth to our nephew.
Eugene and I  shared some of the recent events in our lives up to that point but never saw each other again. 

May you rest in Peace.




To Maureen and the Entire Mckenna Family,

Please accept my deepest condolences. I just came across this memory page so forgive my late posting.

Eugene and I were best buds while growing up together as young kids on Dean St. I lived at 44 Underhill Ave (corner of Dean St) and we experienced together the best of times that the streets had to offer. I fondly remember Eugene's Mom bringing home a coveted Blackout cake from her place of work on Saturday nights and I still talk about Eugene's grandfather who was one of the last hemp inspectors on the Brooklyn docks. There is a sepia type photo that someone had posted of a young Eugene along with 3 other guys......I'm on the right in the plaid shirt and jacket, Stanley is between us and Gerald is on the left. In another photo I saw  Prospect Place George Kiely(?spelling) who was another one of the guys. In the mid to late '60's we gradually drifted apart due to military service obligations and life in general. One of the last times that I saw Maureen and Eugene was when they visited with their infant who he lovingly called "Squirtso". I treasure the memories of our long ago friendship and will always remember Eugene with a smile! Rest in Peace!

Dearest Maureen, Amy, Erica, Kristine and families,  We wish for you many happy memories to turn your tears into smiles. All our love.

Don and I, and our children Tristan and Zan extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Maureen, Erica, Amy, Kris, and their families.  Eugene will be missed. His impact on the world is made clear by how many people loved him. 

As a child I adored Eugene  he was my wise, gentle teenage cousin. Decades ago, when the family mostly still lived in Brooklyn, we gathered together frequently at my family's home, or one of my mother's siblings' houses but most often at Nanny and Pappa's house on Dean St., where Eugene lived with his mother.  It was always a large joyous gathering: the adult talked and laughed and the kids played together.  Within this happy chaos, Eugene had a gentle and loving presence. I adored Eugene.  He was a kind, gentle person that always had time for me. I loved to listen to him talk and I think I must have stared at him frequently because I have many memories of watching him doing mundane activities such as walking down the street with his friends. 

As we matured into adults, I saw Eugene periodically. While I was in college many years ago, our paths would cross and I was always happy to see him. He was still a gentle soul.  In the past 5 years, I had the pleasure to have dinner with Eugene and Maureen in Phoenix.  Eugene told me amazing stories that gave me an adult view of my childhood memories.  I next saw him at my mother's funeral last year. The fact is, everyone was so pleased to see Eugene and Maureen since Eugene is so important in our families' memories. We lost him way too soon and I wish I had seen him more as an adult.

So sorry for your loss, all of the pictures tell a great story of a great family man who loved being surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.
as sung by the Beatles " In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make" and I can see that Eugene had a lot of love to give.
Rest in peace my God father.
are thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time
Brendan and Susan Kane

To continue my entry - in later years I would look forward to Eugene's newsletters and family updates. He really had a way with words and could wax philosophic with the best of them. His uncles Bill and Larry wou be proud. Eugene will be sorely missed.

We are so sorry to hear of Eugene's passing.  Please accept our sincere sympathy in this very difficult time.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
 
Cousin Eugene and I are the same age, so we were good friends when we were young.  He was always Eugene to me, never Gene.  It was always a special event when Eugene, his mom, Nanny and Papa came to visit us seven Sullivan kids or we visited them, when we all lived in Brooklyn.  We always had loads of fun.
  
A couple of summers, I got to go to John's Beach in NJ with Eugene and his family. We played all day long. -- Catching crabs with frozen fish heads or tails as bait -- yummy eating, penny gambling over a card games (Hearts), and dunking each other and other new friends in the river. -- No TV, nothing to do but play.  I remember we had such fun together.  

I was so glad that Eugene called me a few years ago to exchange life stories and that my husband Jim and I got together a few times with him and his lovely wife Maureen. He talked a little about his work/company, but mostly about his family. -- Such a proud and loving husband, dad and granddad. And still the kind, warm, thoughtful, and caring person that I remembered from childhood.  I will miss him.

Our deepest sympathy, 
Janice Sullivan Cooperstein and her husband Jim
509-993-6298

Eugene was my first crush. As a little girl I thought he was just the most handsome and coolest boy I knew. And I was right, he was. In later years Eugene

OBITUARY

Eugene Edward McKenna

17 October, 1946 – 18 October, 2017

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