Eugene Neal Wendell

1942 - 2021

Eugene Neal Wendell
Eugene Neal Wendell, 79, of Norwalk, CT, passed away January 24, 2021, at the Fairfield County Hospice House after a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer.
Gene was born January 5, 1942 in Stamford, CT to Robert and Annette Wendell of Darien. He graduated from Wright Technical School and received a Bachelor's degree from Pace College in New York. He married Sue Machol in April 1967 while Sue was in nursing school, and he worked in electronic sales until his retirement.
Gene was clever and worldly, and knew how to get the most out of a situation, and find loopholes even in the seemingly most tightly written rules, sometimes at the awe and expense of others who thought they could intimidate or manipulate him.
He was a builder and fixer, and rebuilt his loved beach house at Lordship Beach in Stratford after a storm washed half of it away. In college, he made his own banjo, and played it and sang backup in a folk band, The Pennywhistles. He lent his many skills and talents over the years to help friends and family with repairing vehicles, household items, remodeling, and general patching up. He most recently built a professional recording studio, in what was a barn with a dirt floor, for his son. He worked on it even after getting sick, and kept working until his body would no longer allow him to - stubbornly, defiantly, and proudly doing it his way, with his rules, until the very end. He did this along with many other projects which he never finished.
Gene loved the beach and Long Island Sound, sailing, riding his jet skis and slalom skied from Stratford to Port Jefferson with his wife spotting and his daughter who was ten year old at the time driving the boat. When you see a wave that looks enchanting, it's probably Gene winking at you.
Perhaps his biggest community contribution was the many years of service to Temple shalom in Norwalk as a dedicated Board member and active congregant. His advice and hard work at Temple shalom was invaluable. He helped do many of the needed repairs, replacements, and other major jobs needed as the Temple grew in size. He loved the staff and doing work with all of them, and was also very close with the clergy. He will always be remembered and honored there as a tireless contributor and friend.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sue, and much loved children, Lauren Heather Wendell and her partner, Jonathan Feldman of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and David Evan Wendell. He is also survived by his brother Steven Wendell and his sister-in-law, Charlene Wendell, and nieces and nephews.