Gene Mandell Obituary

Gene Mandell

6/22/1949 - 9/23/2021

Eugene (Gene) K Mandell passed away at home on September 23, 2021. Born in Los Angeles to Jules and Ruth Mandell. He graduated from Sylmar High School in 1967 and graduated Cum Laude from UCLA in 1972 with a BA in History. After college he helped his father in their family carpet and furniture business until his father's retirement. He started his own business, Express Messenger, where he had several employees delivering documents all over the west coast. He moved to Oregon in 1989, deciding he had had enough of the rat race of Southern California. When the internet came along, eliminating the need for his messenger service, he decided to go back to school to be a teacher. He attended Southern Oregon University in order to obtain his teaching credentials. After a few years of subbing, he found a niche as a homebased tutor for Central Point School District #6, Eagle Point School District #9, Ashland School District #5, Medford School District #549C, Grants Pass School District #7, Phoenix-Talent School District #4 and Three Rivers School District. His gift was working with the kids that were hard to teach, the "bad kids", the disruptive kids, the kids that the teachers had lost any idea of how to reach them. Central Point School District referred to him as the "Human Fire Extinguisher", a label he was proud of. He always had a kind word and found the silver lining for every student he worked with. He was admired by his teaching peers for this fabulous trait.

Gene also loved music. He played guitar since a very young age. Later in life, he took up playing piano, teaching himself how to play. Another passion was Spanish. He studied in high school as well as college but perfected the language working with his father Jules in their business. Based in San Fernando, CA, most of their customers were of Latin descent. He taught Spanish at several schools, on a collage level at SOU, as well as for Central Point Parks and Rec. He and his wife, Imogene, made several trips to Latin countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru. Machu Picchu was a lifelong dream trip.

His biggest passion was speech and debate. He competed in high school and then went on to judging while in college. He tried to remain involved somehow during his teaching years. One way he did this was to volunteer with other coaches in order to help anyway he could. He judged at two national tournaments.

He is survived by the love of his life, Imogene (Imie) Mandell, Central Point, his brother Mark Mandell, Sherman Oaks, CA, and numerous other cousins and family. In addition, there was a wide range of friends and students that he taught over the last 30 years. Memorial contribution can be made to The Glioblastoma Foundation. A celebration of life is planned for June 19th at TouVelle Park, Area A at 11 am.

Published by Mail Tribune from Jun. 2 to Jun. 5, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Gene Mandell

3 Entries

Talon Taylor

July 20, 2022

Gene was a special kind of person, i was one of thoes bad kids he taught lol, and i credit him for my success in life, as i sit here with at 33 years old beautiful wife of 14 years and three kids and a wonderful career.
The school had given up on me by age 15, haveng been expelled from every grade from second to 9th, Gene showed up at my house October my 9th grade year and changed my life forever, he quickly found common ground in or shared love of moives, iseing them as home work i would watch historical moives about wars, historical moives, words events etc, he would than teach me about thoes subjects and by the end of my freshman year i was a different human being.
I I continued high school my sophomore year and never was expelled agian going on to complete high school with almost no schooling pior to 9th grade as i never made it all the way though a grade untill i met him.
He was more than my teacher, he was my friend when every other adult had all but given up, he found a way to reach me, he helped me deal with my pain and anger by his compassion.

His lesson of life he bestowed on me are utilized every day and passed down to my kids. Because of him though the pandemic i was able to keep my kids engaged and learning by watching moives and than i have them research them and than write a report.
They are all testing well above there piers and where i was behinde though my schooling´s, my children are ahead because of his teaching´s.
I was able to use his teaching methods on my kids.

Gene was more than job st a man, he was my hero, when everyone turned there back he opened his arms.

To his wife, he would talk about you all the time, his love for you was beautiful and watching him and listening to him talk about you was beautiful.

Gene you better save some popcorn because wr have so many cool moives to watch and talk (as he would say) when we meet again my friend.

Kathy Wray

June 4, 2022

Sending love and prayers to all family and friends. Gene was a great guy and I considered him a good friend for many yrs., He will truly be missed. Rest In Peace Gene.

Gail Rasmussen

June 2, 2022

Deepest sympathy to the family! Gene was a fabulous person and one whom I counted as both a personal and professional friend. I met Gene while working at Eagle Point High School where he was one of the favorites to substitute anytime a teacher needed one. He always had a smile and a good word for all. He will be missed by many.

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