Eugene Cleary

Anchorage resident Eugene Francis Cleary, 77, died July 28, 2010, in Anchorage from cancer.

A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Holy Family Cathedral, 800 W. Fifth Ave. Burial will take place at a later date in Westwood, Mass.

Gene was born Jan. 17, 1933, in Boston, Mass., to Frank and Elaine Cleary. After serving in the Merchant Marine and the U.S. Army, he married his childhood sweetheart, Florence, and moved to Los Angeles in 1957. There he began a 40-year career as a pile driver and commercial diver.

In 1965, along with his wife and four children, he moved to Alaska. His diving career took him to various locations throughout the state, where he worked on oil platforms, underwater pipelines, salvage projects and marine construction jobs. In the early '70s, he started his own diving company, Cleary Diving Service, and built the diving vessel Shamrock. He transitioned from diver to business agent of the Pile Driver, Bridge, Dock Builders and Divers Union, Local 2520, where he worked until his retirement in 1998.

A true Bostonian at heart, Gene was a fan of all New England sports teams and passed this tradition on to his sons and grandsons. He also enjoyed traveling to Boston and Las Vegas, reading, model-ship building, family game nights and all activities requiring a grandpa's support.

"Our father was an intelligent, honest, loyal, and hard working man who believed a handshake was as good as your word," his family said. "We will miss his wit, his straight-forward attitude, his old school manners, his stories from the past, and his love for all of us."

Gene's wife, Florence, and his sister, Patricia, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Kevin Hanley and Cathy and David Pedzewick; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Janice Cleary and Steven and Melissa Cleary; grandchildren, Shaun and Ryan Hanley, Christopher, Andrew and Shelby Pedzewick, Lara Cleary, and Kyle and Conner Cleary; his brother, Robert Cleary; and sister, Bernice Wipfler and her family.

The family would like to thank Providence Hospice nurses Amanda and Mimi for their wonderful and compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Providence Hospice, 3435 E. Tudor Road, would make Gene smile.