The Daily Lewis: August 2019

Thank you all for coming today.

Before I begin I would like to express our family’s gratitude to Father Paul, Eve, and St John Fisher as well as all our friends and family who have made it here today.

I would also like to express what an honor it is for me to speak about Gene.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Ginny and Genes son Jeff.

Today, We are all here to celebrate the life of our friend, our dad, our husband and our grandfather. Gene Carl Lewis.

Gene was born on August 25^th 1933 in Allentown PA.

He grew up poor but he always used to say I didn’t realize I was poor because as a kid we always had something to eat and a place to live.

After his parent’s divorce Gene said his transition from Pennsylvania to California was tough. He was a senior in high school and had to make a new set of friends.

Although it was difficult in the beginning, Gene reflected later in life that moving to CA was one of the best things that ever happened to him…..besides meeting Ginny

Gene loved Southern California and lived in the South Bay for nearly all of his adult life.

Gene would often express his gratitude for his stepfather Reggie WIngo for encouraging him to go to college and funding his education at USC.

During his college years he received his draft notice and served a short time in the Army before returning to USC and graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Gene’s first job out of school was with Northrop Grumman. He then transferred to the satellite division of Hughes Aircraft and worked there from 1968 until he retired in 1998. Gene had Top Secret Clearances and was on the front lines of the Cold War building spy satellites that ultimately helped bring down the Soviet Union in 1991.

In 1986 after a divorce from his wife LaVerne, Gene signed up for a dance class at Redondo union High school.

He said “I thought well I was only 52, I wasn't ready to lay down and die so I took a ballroom dance class.”

My mom, Ginny, who was also recently divorced attended the same class at the urging of a friend.

They were wearing name tags with their first and last names when the dancing began. Gene noticed Ginny’s name tag. He went over to introduce himself and said I noticed we have the same last name. That is how Ginny and Gene met for the first time and the rest is history.

They continued to dance together in class. Gene finally asked Ginny “would you like to go try this somewhere else? They were soon the dance power couple at Del Conte's in Torrance and anywhere else there was a dance floor.

Gene soon became a nightly fixture around dinner time at our home on Via Media. Little did we know then but that was also the beginning of Gene becoming a permanent member of our Lewis family.

Our gang was Ginny, myself, my brother Andy and my sister Christy. It’s grown a lot since we added Gene in 1986.

Gene Carl Lewis had an appreciation for the good things in life including music, dancing, travel, food, wine, USC football and especially friends and family.

He was an incredible ball room and swing dancer. He also loved to western line dance with Ginny at Denim and Diamonds in SM back in the 80s.

Gene loved luaus in Hawaii. When my brother and I were diving for cover as dancer came into the audience looking for volunteers, Gene would have hand up. He loved to get on stage and dance the Hula.

Gene was also an expert self taught skier. Old School and amazingly smooth on the slopes Really fun to watch. He and my brother bet who was the fastest down the hill. The outcome and the winner of the race was never determined with certainty. Gene said he won. Andy said he won. 25 years later they still argued about who owned the Hill that day.

Mammoth Mountain was his place and he would often tell us about the early days in the 60s of riding the bus after work on a Friday to ski mammoth over the weekend only to be back at work early Monday .

Gene brought ski trips to Mammoth into our lives and was especially proud seeing the grandkids take to the slopes.

Genes would always plan our annual Mammoth Super Bowl ski weekend and Super Bowl betting pool …usually in June…He loved a cocktail at the Yoddler and relaxing in the Jacuzzi after a long day on the hill.

Gene also loved our family trips to Hawaii and introduced us to the Mauni Lani on the Big Island. We spent many fun days relaxing at the Beach Club and snorkeling in the ocean. Gene hated salt water. The last time we went in 2014, I was snorkeling with my daughters and I turn around and here comes Gene on a raft kicking out into deep water just so he could be with the gang.

Gene also enjoyed trips to Palm Springs, Delaware,, Yosemite, South Carolina, Disney World in Florida, Aspen, and Positano Italy for our wedding in 2002.

Those of you who know Gene know that he was in his element when he was given an assignment or something to plan whether it was a trip, a dinner reservation a visit to Costco for a hot dog, Josette’s driving school or Chelsea’s entire College career.

Gene was extremely proud of all the grandchildren. He gladly accepted the role of grandfather and would always spoil them at Christmas time and birthdays. He never missed an event and was always present and always encouraging. I know he will be there in spirit when Chelsea and Lance get married next summer.

My wife Joyce and gene became the best of friends over the years speaking almost daily on the phone planning the week’s family activities and scheduling Ginny and Gene’s visit for babysitting duties. They never said no or complained when we would get home late. Gene would be asleep on the couch and upon waking, would give us a blow by blow accounting of what the kids did or said while we were out.

Gene was generous with his time and money. Always the first to pull out his wallet and help with the tab. Whether it was a dinner at Ws , school for one of the grandkids or helping Ginny buy her house in Delaware.

In the 33 years I knew Gene, I never saw him cry until one night at his house during dinner just after Chelsea had graduated from college. He spoke with tears welling up in his eyes of his Step Father Reggie helping through USC and how he had finally paid it forward by helping Chelsea through her college years.

Gene loved Ginny and like our children, Gene took good care of her. He was her best friend and companion for 33 years.

Some Generisms is I will always remember..

Gene would always ask me “How’s your gang?” always wanting to know about any new devlopments with the children.

“Hi, this is Gene. You know what to do” on his answering machine.

“I like college football not pro football” would always be his catch phrase when USC football began in the fall.

“if I was the coach, I would blow my brains out” was another USC related geneism usually when USC would blow a lead and end up loosing the game.

Gene would often watch Fox News…. at volume 100.

He was a sharp dresser and He liked liberally apply Polo cologne by RL

“Could you give me a ride to the airport at 5 am?” gene would ask …Usually for a 9 am flight.” For those of you who don’t know..it takes 30 minutes to get from his house to the airport.

After 30 years plus of taking gene to the airport, he would always inform me “ I take Hawthorne BLVD to Century” as we pulled out his driveway. I began pretending I never heard him say that and I would ask him before he volunteered..How do you go to the airport Gene? just to hear him say it again. He would always repeat his directions with a straight face as if I was hearing it for the first time.

“ I will have the Maui Maui” Famous New Year’s Eve dinner at the Mammoth Chart House when ordering the Mahi mahi

“We have enough food to feed the Chinese Army”

“Gin and Tonic with a Lemon not a lime. That’s how the British serve it” Gene learned this on his African Sufari in 1982. You didn’t want to be the waiter who brought him a lime.

“ I said you have great ears” if you would ask “what did you say gene?”

“Your mom’s cooking is outstanding”

Any dish that he liked at a restaurant would aways get Gene’s “outstanding” rating

Before our children were born, Ginny and Gene’s home in RHE became our home on Sunday nights. Joyce and I would make our way over for spaghetti dinner, laundry, Sex and the City and the Sopranos’.

Our Gene passed away on May 24 at his home in Rolling Hills with his beloved Ginny by his side. He was three months shy of his 86 birthday.

Mom took care of Gene by herself the last year of his life. It was very difficult and extremely stressful at times but Ginny rarely asked for help. She showed me what it means to love someone by her devotion, her silent strength and the care and patience she showed Gene. He would often say to me “I don’t know what I would do without Ginny” Mom I am so proud of you. You are an example for us all.

In closing,

I will remember my dad as a fun, stubborn, smart. Generous, loyal man who was devoted to our family, who was liked by all, who was up for any adventure and a guy who just wanted to be a part of the fun and part of the gang.

I know I will see Gene again one day in heaven. He will be wearing his favorite Tommy Bahamas shirt, his USC cap, his POLO cologne, and his gold Rolex President. He will have a Tanquery and Tonic with a lemon in his hand and he will say with a big smile, Hiya Jeff... How’s the gang?”

Gene, you were an amazing man! A wonderful Friend to Ginny and us all, a great Grandpa and a wonderful father figure to Christy, Jeff and Andy. I loved you as a friend and awesome father-in-law! Your presence in our lives made everyone's better. We thank you for many wonderful years of fun, love and loyalty. You will live on in our memories forever and we know you are seated by our Father in Heaven.