Eugene Baxter Hollander

1921 - 2017

Eugene Baxter Hollander

Eugene Baxter Hollander of Rancho Palos Verdes born Sept. 19th 1921 in Loretto, TN to Hermann Henry Hollander and Maymie Marie McCracken passed away January 14th and joined his loving wife of 72 years Cathryn. His family moved to Akron, Ohio in 1927 where Gene attended Miller Elementary School. He graduated from West High in 1939 where he lettered in tennis and played on the basketball team and caddied at the Fairlawn Country Club. Gene entered Akron University in 1939 and joined the Army Reserves. Before he entered the war effort, in 1942 he married Cathryn Brubaker. He was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia for officers training and was trained to fly B-24's. He joined a super bombing squad called "Operation Upgrade." When the war ended he was offered a permanent commission with the purpose of flying B-52's. Gene did not stay in the military but returned to Akron to finish his degree in engineering. Gene entered Akron University as one of the top 10 freshmen in his class and made the engineering dean's list when he graduated and was a member of Phi Kappa Epsilon. Gene went to work for Goodyear to lead the design of a new nuclear armed missile termed "The Mace." Gene was chosen out of 3,000 engineers to go to Wiesbaden, Germany as part of an operations team to support the air force on how to deploy/ launch the missile. In 1961 Gene was appointed Goodyear Aerospace Western Regional Manager located in Los Angeles. From Germany, he moved his family Rancho Palos Verdes, Ca where he resided for the remainder of his life. He is survived by his children, Susan (Ron), Jeff (Beverly), Kneal (Irene); grandchildren, Ian, James, Fiona, Brett, Amy and great grandchildren, Maggie, Abby, Andrew, Elizabeth, Ryan and Christopher. Gene was V.P. of National Defense Industries Association, was on the evangelical membership committee of the RHUMC, 22 years vice president of the Palos Verdes Senior Center, member of the Peninsula Vets, and faithfully attended the monthly PV "Coffee and Cars." A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 18th at 12 noon at AM Gamby, 25001 Narbonne Ave., Lomita, Ca. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church or to the Palos Verdes Senior Center. To leave a condolence visit www.amgamby.com. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.