Obituary of Eugene L. Cass

CASS, EUGENE LOUIS. “GENE” died peacefully at home on August 27, 2018 surrounded by his family.  Born in Hoboken, NJ on December 17, 1929 to Louis Cassinelli and Louise (Garbarini) Cassinelli, the family moved to North Bergen .  Gene attended Union Hill H.S. where he was All-County in football and was graduated from St. Peter’s College with a B.A. in English.  He married the love of his life Catherine “Kay” Reynolds in 1954 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage raising five children.  Early in their married life he served in Guam in the U.S.A.F. and wrote for Stars and Stripes getting the news from ticker tape.  His career began writing for the Hudson Dispatch and finished as a manager for Western Electric.  Gene co-edited a book, Man and Work in Society and was awarded a Clio for editing a film on services to the disabled.  A Brooklyn Dodger fan he transferred his loyalty to the NY Mets and also rooted for the NY Jets and Rutgers football.  

Gene is survived by his wife Catherine and children Mary Lou (John), Peg (Denise), Gene Jr., Cathy (Stephan), Bob (Carmen) and granddaughters Kate and Molly Bachmann.  He is also survived by his sister Rita and is predeceased by his brother Laurence.  We are forever grateful to Esther Apollon who cared for Dad in his last years.

As an amateur wordsmith Gene instilled his love of English by challenging his children to find a word in the dictionary that he couldn’t define.  Their reward was a dime.  Suffice it to say that they didn’t get rich in the game but they played it throughout their lives.

Gene’s most endearing trait was his genuine interest in his family and unending support of their endeavors and life choices.  He will be remembered  for the good times playing touch football with his family, vacationing in Cooperstown, NY and cooking his famous Beef Wellington at Christmas.

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 4-7 pm at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main St., Madison, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Gene on Friday, August 31, 2018 at 10:00am at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. Interment will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery, Madison.

The family would be grateful for donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation or a charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.