E. Eugene Allmendinger

DURHAM — E. Eugene Allmendinger, 90, died of natural causes on Thursday, June 26, 2008, while surrounded by family.

Gene was born July 4, 1917, in Dearborn, Mich., and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1941 with a degree in Naval architecture. He later received his master of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

Gene is survived by his wife, Ann Allmendinger of Durham; daughter Nancy Walker and her husband, Bruce, of Lanesboro, Mass.; son Richard Allmendinger, his wife, Terry Jordan, and daughter, Carrie, of Ithaca, N.Y.; son Scott Allmendinger, his wife, Ayn, and sons Jeremy and Ryan of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; brother Jackson Allmendinger and his wife, Doris, of Honor, Mich., and their children David, Caroline (Baker), Jim and Dennis. He will also be greatly missed by countless people he considered to be both friends and family around the world.

WE REMEMBER: After leaving the U.S. Navy in 1946, he taught at the U.S. Naval Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of New Hampshire, where he also served as associate director of the marine program and director of marine operations.

His passion for the ocean, travel and meeting people led to visiting professorships at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, University of Hawaii, University of Trondheim in Norway and the Chalmers University of Technology in Goteborg, Sweden. His own door was always open to traveling students, seamen or business acquaintances — many of whom became lifelong friends.

In addition to being awarded an honorary doctorate from UNH for his role in establishing the university's marine program, Gene also received a letter of commendation for outstanding service to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and was named a Society Fellow to the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. He was a director of the Seacoast Science Center, past president of the Dover Rotary Club, Maritime Heritage Commission, Marine Organizations Council, and Navy League of the United States, Port of Portsmouth, and played a key role in establishing Albacore Park.

SERVICES: A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Community Church in Durham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seacoast Science Center, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, NH 03870, or Albacore Park, 600 Market St., Portsmouth, NH 03833. Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave., Dover. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.purdyfuneralservice.com.