Gene-Colin-Obituary

Photo courtesy of CLOSED-Harvey Family Funeral Home

Gene J. Colin

Seattle, Washington

May 14, 1941 – Jun 6, 2017 (Age 76)

About

BORN
May 14, 1941
DIED
June 6, 2017
AGE
76
LOCATION
Seattle, Washington

Obituaries

Send Flowers

CLOSED-Harvey Family Funeral Home Obituary



Gene J. Colin, 76, former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ferguson Construction, died of natural causes while doing what he loved on Tuesday morning, June 6th.


Gene Colin was born May 14, 1941, in Paterson, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents, Gino and Linda Colin.  He worked at his father’s construction company while growing up.  He briefly attended the Franciscan Seminary in Calicoon, New York, before graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Civil Engineering.  He served on Active Duty in the U.S. Army’s 2d Logistical Command on Okinawa, Japan, during the Vietnam War (1963 -1965).


After serving in the Army, Gene arrived in Seattle in 1965, taking a position at Boeing in construction management. Two years later, he became a Project Engineer at Ferguson Construction.  Gene was responsible for many projects, including a 25,000-square-foot distribution center built for Bernie Brotman in 1973. About a decade later, Gene had become CEO and Chairman of Ferguson when he got a call from Bernie’s son, Jeff Brotman, who wanted him to renovate a building at Fourth Avenue for a new venture he was calling “Costco Wholesale”. The hundreds of Costco jobs and other building projects that followed gave Gene the opportunity to transform Ferguson Construction into the industry leader known for its high-performing, committed-to-quality ‘Team Ferguson’ that continues today.


Although Gene remained Ferguson’s Chairman Emeritus until the day he died, he was also widely recognized for his significant service to the community, demonstrating a passion for education.  He was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to serve as a member of Washington State’s Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board, completing a term as Board’s chairman.  Gene’s other education-related board positions include South Seattle Community College Foundation, Eastside Catholic High School, the Seattle Nativity School, and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington Education Foundation.  He also served as: Board member of Seattle Humane; Chairman of the AGC’s Government Affairs Council; Chairman of the Washington State Building Code Council; and most recently, Chairman of the Board of Pacific Medical Centers.


Gene was the recipient of many awards and an active supporter of a great number of charitable organizations. Most importantly, Gene will be remembered as a great man with a huge heart who affected the lives of countless individuals.


He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan Janus; his children, Carla Colin (Jeff Toth), Crista Haugen (Kris), and Ryan Hazlett (Jessica); his grandchildren, Devin Toth, Blake Haugen, Gianna Haugen, Ella Hazlett and Lucy Hazlett; and his great-granddaughter, Camryn Haugen. 


Funeral mass will be celebrated Saturday, June 17th at 10:30 AM at St. James Cathedral 804 9th Avenue Seattle 98104.  Visitation will begin an hour prior to the services. A private interment will be held at a later date.


Free parking for St. James Cathedral will be available at O’Dea High School and surface lots as posted. There is also paid parking at the Cabrini Tower garage and other surface lots and parking garages nearby.           


Remembrances can be made to the AGC Education Foundation, the South Seattle Community College 13th Year Promise Scholarship, or the Seattle Nativity School, a Catholic middle school in south Seattle that seeks to break the cycle of poverty through education.  


Hoffner Fisher & Harvey


Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com

Read More

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

We met Gene as neighbors at Hillclimb Court in 1988. In the 1990s, we renewed our friendship as we ran The Inn at Langley. He was a wonderful, funny, and generous friend. Our hearts are broken to learn of his passing. Love to Susan and his family.

Today while reading Proverbs and looking ahead into Ecclesiastes, I re-read Gene's obituary which I had clipped from Sunday Seattle Times 6.11.2017 and filed in my Bible. It was my privilege to know him and learn from his wisdom. I look to reaquaint in eternity and maybe get a round of golf, too.

I knew Gene for over 30 years and found him to be generally decent, kind, respectful and quite wise. I asked him to talk to my younger brother for a job and he gave him an opportunity to work for him and with him which became a great career. He always had time to meet and speak with people and offer good advice and assistance whenever possible. He will be missed. Matt j.

Sending sincere condolences and prayers to the family of Gene Colin.

From a high school friend at St. Luke's, Class of '59

Kathleen McTighe Rhody

Gene was a classmate and 4 year class president at St. Luke's High School in New Jeesey..He always had a smile and a kind word for all.He was an energetic,happy and very bright guy..
Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Dan Coughlin

Gene was a good friend at St. Luke's High School in Ho-ho-kus NJ. We were on the debating team together with Tim Sullivan and Mary Scafuro. Weirdly, I remember that his favorite restaurant in New Jersey was a place called Villa Cesare.It appears that he was quite a successful person in his life and did much good. It's too bad that we never saw each other again after 1959. Sincerest condolences to his family.

Dr.John Galotto, Potomac, Maryland

Dear Gene, so sad and sorry I missed your service. I just found out. Miss you dearly and big Hugs! Thank you for all you have done and taught me. I have learned to live and give with no fears.

Condolences to the family for your loss. I met him by fluke and he provided me the opportunity of a lifetime! I only dreamed and prayed for an opportunity vowing that if I was given a chance I will run with it and never look back. At the time we met, I was working 5 part time jobs to make...

I knew Gene for some 21 years through his relationship in the AGC of Washington. I was very sad to hear of his passing and will miss him greatly :( He was always happy to see me and would take time to hear how I was. He was a great supporter of my husband and I in our adoption of our daughter. He would email me or touch base frequently about how she was and we were during the long process. I missed his memorial due to her fastpitch tournament (they won State). He would have been happy to...

Gene: Remember you well from St. Lukes. Always thoughtful & kind. Wish you were able to come to one of our reunions . You will be missed. Condolences to your family & friends, Joan Bernstein St. Lukes '59