Eugene Frederick Gadway

ISLE LA MOTTE, Vt./ FT. MYERS, Fla. — Gene Gadway, 76, of Isle La Motte, Vt., and Fort Myers, Fla., passed away at home Jan. 6, 2010.

Gene was born Oct. 8, 1933, in Dannemora to Pliny and Dorothy Gadway. He graduated in 1950 from Mount Assumption Institute in Plattsburgh.

Gene had fond memories of growing up in Morrisonville and Plattsburgh; fishing the Saranac River; swimming in Lake Champlain with friends on the old U.S. Army/Air Force Base; and of playing baritone in the highly regarded MAI high-school marching band, which traveled throughout the Northeast and Canada.

Gene joined the U.S. Air Force upon his high-school graduation and was stationed in Okinawa during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return, he entered Plattsburgh State Teachers College on the GI Bill and decided, AFTER his student teaching, that teaching was not for him! He joined the U.S. Postal Service and was a loyal employee there for nearly 15 years. He then bought Branson's, a local tavern and remained a bar-keep until his retirement in 1991, at which time he and Janet began spending their winters in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Gene and Janet moved from West Chazy to Isle La Motte, Vt., in 1998, selling their beloved stone house to be near kids and grandkids. He enjoyed his time on the lake, fishing, boating and having his grandkids come to visit and play.

Gene always enjoyed doing his daily crossword puzzle, and in his later years, had fun reading about personal finance and, of course, playing Free Cell on the computer.

Gene was a kind and patient person, never one to judge and always open-minded and accepting of others.

Gene is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Janet; his children, Linda Machado and husband, Ken of San Jose, Calif., David Gadway and wife, Lisa of Isle La Motte, Vt., and Michael Gadway and wife, Debbie of Culpepper, Va.; his grandchildren, Kyle and Kristen Rosa, Alexandra and Leslie Gadway and Jenna, Julia and Matthew Gadway, who had various names for their grandfather: Grandpa, Gramps, Danta, Eugenious, Geno and Papi. He is also survived by his brothers and their spouses, Ron and Barbara Gadway, Donald and Carol Gadway and Richard and Rainie Gadway; sister/brother-in-law, Susan and Bill Thielking, Christine and Ken Sawyer; and several nieces and nephews.

Gene was predeceased by his parents; and his special ladies, Aunt Helen and Aunt Priscilla.

A service will be held in Ft. Myers, Fla., Jan. 12, and a memorial service will be held in the North Country in the spring.

Gene had just begun formalizing a scholarship to help students from MAI/Seton Catholic attend St. Michael's College, as he did not have the means to do so upon his high-school graduation.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gene Gadway MAI-Seton Catholic-Saint Michael's Scholarship Fund, c/o David Gadway, 885 East Shore Road, Isle La Motte, VT 05463.