Eugene "Gene" Fiese

Ledyard - Eugene "Gene" Fiese had a habit of opening up the newspaper every morning and turning immediately to the comics leading to a roaring laughter that could be heard throughout the house. After the comics, he would peruse the obituary page and announce, "Well, I'm not here. I guess it's safe to go to work." Sadly, the day has finally come that his obituary has made the newspaper. Gene left us early in the evening March 2, 2023, at 79 years old and the world seems diminished without his light.

Gene was a wonderfully warm funny man with a bright logical mind that could organize anything. He was full of life and full of joy. He was generous to a fault and always wore his heart on his sleeve. Unfortunately, he could also be honest to a fault and had a habit of always knowing the best way to do anything and was irritatingly right about it most of the time. There was nothing fake or hidden about him. What you saw was what you got. He had a real talent for making lasting friends. He collected them the way many of us collect households full of possessions until they overflow.

Gene was born the only son of Jeanette and Horace Fiese, and began his lifelong career of making friends. He was raised in Beloit, Wis., where he attended Beloit High School. He played football, and was of course class president, attending and officiating at every reunion to the delight of his classmates. In addition, he was active in scouting achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. At the University of Wisconsin, he was in the Sigma Chi fraternity (more friends). He discovered a passion for canoeing and sailing on Lake Mendota (even more friends) and graduated with an M.S. in pharmacy in 1968. He married his first wife Suzanne and moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan where he earned his Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry.

His research career began at Parke-Davis and continued at Pfizer for 30 years. Gene retired in 2004, as an associate research fellow in the General Pharmaceutics Group. In that role, he managed a group that assessed the physical chemical properties of potential drug candidates. He served as an advisor and short-course instructor at University of Wisconsin's Division of Pharmacy Professional Development. After retirement, Gene was elected president of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists in 2007, and broadened his friendships world-wide.

Gene was known for being the ultimate Cheesehead fan of the Green Bay Packers. He was also a huge supporter of the Wisconsin Badger's football team and the UConn Huskies women's basketball team. He was active in the Pfizer sailing club and Ensign Fleet racing his own boat, "Indeseas," nearly every weekend. He was also a member of Shennecossett Yacht Club, commodore of the Mudheads (2004) and a certified principal race officer officiating many sailing races in Long Island Sound (many more friends).

He met his second wife, Kathy, at a Christmas tree farm picking out trees and they were inseparable for over 25 years. They laughed, sailed, skied, traveled the world and supported each other in everything they did. They were true soulmates.

He leaves behind his loving wife Kathy; his son T.J. Fiese of New London and Boston; his daughter Emily Adarayan and husband Jericke of Harleysville, Pa.; four grandchildren: Madeline, Emilia, Brandon and Archer; and a multitude of friends.

There will be a Celebration of his Life July 9, at Shennecossett Yacht Club. Donations in his memory can be made to the American Heart Association or charity of one's choice.

Saying goodbye to Gene is akin to a poem he was fond of. We're all standing sadly on the shore watching him sail slowly off into the distance getting smaller and smaller until he disappears from sight. But on the opposite shore there are a multitude of friends and family jumping up and down, pointing and shouting, "Look! Look, here he comes!"