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Eugene Witten Obituary
Born Oct. 22, 1920 in Manhattan, he was the son of Dr. Louis and Anna (Mosessohn) Witten. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he studied at the Art Students League in Manhattan.
He was called into service for four years in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war he continued his art studies, spending several years in Paris, mostly in cafes.
After marrying and working in New York, Gene and Anita sought a place to paint in the country. They lived in New Hampshire and then Vermont, finally settling at their beautiful home on the banks of the Battenkill River in the early sixties. This is where they raised their boys and had theirstudios for 40 yearsGene was celebrated for the subtlety and transparency of his oil paintings which were influenced by both Japanese and French traditions. His work is in the collections of many museums, including Dartmouth College and the Springfield Museum, and in private collections in France, Holland, and Switzerland as well as the local area. The most recent exhibit was at Gallery 668 in Battenville and Galerie Romanet in Paris.
Gene was also a talented maker of custom frames. His skills in gilding and hand carving are ones that are becoming rarer.
Besides his wife of 50 years, he is survived by two sons and their wives, Timothy Witten and Christiana Carr of Seattle and Matthew Franz Witten and Sherry Pachman of Starksboro, VT; a granddaughter, Evalin Witten; a brother, Commander Charles Witten ; a brother-in-law, Parke Sandler and numerous nieces and nephews. A sister, Rue Sandler, predeceased him last year A memorial gathering is being planned for the spring.
In honor of Gene’s love of music, the family requests memorial donations be made to Music from Salem, c/o Bob Strode, treasurer, 39 South Valley Road, Argyle, NY 12809 or Planned Parenthood, Washington County, Granville, NY 12832.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ackley & Ross Funeral Home, Cambridge.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Eugene Witten
6 Entries
Parke Sandler
January 22, 2004
Gene, a Brother-in-law to be both loved and admired, will be long remembered not only for his many talents, but for a remarkable wit and fun-loving nature. I will miss him as I keep him alive in my mind.
Toni Schneeweiss
January 22, 2004
Uncle Gene. Wie allgegenwaertig Du in unserer Familie warst und bist. All Deine Bilder an den Waenden. Und wie oft warst Du Thema in unseren Gespraechen. Und oft hatten wir vor lauter Lachen Traenen in unseren Augen als wir von Dir sprachen. Vor ein paar Tagen waren es wahre Traenen. Du wuerdest es sicher gerne sehen, wenn wir wieder ueber Dich lachen wuerden. Wir werden uns bemuehen. Obwohl es uns schwer faellt. T.S., Vienna, Austria
Blair Alpert-Sandler
January 21, 2004
Gene, my mother's brother, seems to have died as well as he lived, and I'm grateful for that. Gene is one of the few people I will really miss, and whom I wish I had been able to be with more while he was here. I liked him and I loved him and I'm glad I knew him.
Charles Witten
January 18, 2004
Gene was definitely an individual and one of a kind. He was my younger and only brother. Our paths in life were very different, and I have great respect for what he did. I will miss him very much.
Michael Strasser
January 16, 2004
I knew and loved Gene Witten for over 33 years. Ours was the kind of friendship most cherished, one filled with mutual delight. His death doesn't even begin to erase that delight. How sweet and lucky to have known him so long!
Matt Kelly
January 16, 2004
Anita, I am sorry to hear about your loss. I know you and Gene had a deep and resounding bond that most people can only envy. Memories of your years together will help sustain you. I will keep you in my prayers.
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