Eugene Payne III

1947 - 2019

Eugene Charles Payne III

May 15, 1947 - January 18, 2019

Eugene Charles Payne III, Esq., aged 71, died in San Francisco on January 18, 2019. Gene passed from our hands into the loving hands of God surrounded by his family. Gene was a devoted and loving husband to Lin and loving father to their four children: Mary Beth Cecchini (J.T.), Gene (Michelle), Michael (Elizabeth), and Catherine. He was affectionately known as "Pa" to his eight grandchildren: Drew and Cate Cecchini; Chloe and Charlie Payne; and Gus, Celsa, Hazel, and Milo Payne. Gene was the cherished son of the late Joan and Eugene Charles Payne II, brother to Steven Payne, and son-in-law to the late Celsa and Richard Gemmet.

Gene was a native San Franciscan and from a family that resided in California for generations. He attended St. Paul and St. Cecilia grammar schools and St. Ignatius High School, where he was an accomplished member of the debate team and graduated with honors. He then went on to Georgetown University where he was editor-in-chief of Georgetown's undergraduate weekly newspaper, The Hoya. After graduation from Georgetown, Gene earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He practiced law in San Francisco for 45 years, primarily as a partner at Tobin & Tobin. Gene was also active in many charitable organizations. He served on the executive committee of the board of directors of Hanna Boys Center, and board of directors/regents for the following: the Archbishop Alemany Scholarship Fund, St. Ignatius College Preparatory, the Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center, the St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation, and the Waterbridge Outreach: Books + Water. He served as a director of the Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage and as a director and treasurer of the San Francisco Public Library. Gene received the St. Thomas More Award in 1995 and the Janet Pomeroy Banner of Love Award in 2007. He was a member of the Order of Malta for 28 years, and served as Hospitaller of the Western Association from 2003 to 2008. Gene was also an active member of his beloved Summerhome Park, where he spent almost every summer of his life.

Friends may visit Tuesday, January 29 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary following at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, 666 Filbert Street. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Eugene C. Payne III to St. Ignatius Class of 1965, Golden Diploma Scholarship (2001 37th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116), The Janet Pomeroy Center (207 Skyline Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132), The Order of Malta Oakland Clinic (2121 Harrison St. #110, Oakland, CA 94612) or St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation (450 Stanyan St., San Francisco, CA 94117).