EUGENE (GENE) BUNGAY JR.

Gene was a wonderful, smart, sweet, sincere, sensitive, protective, funny, strong, loving man. Gene had a one of a kind sense of humor. This is what he was known for. His adorable laughter & his beautiful smile. His cute remarks. If you were sad at all and hung out around Gene, he'd have you laughing in minutes. His jokes and his imitations were incredible.

Place a person in front of Gene and he could mimic you in minutes. That was a gift, the gift of a comedian. He touched many lives and the one thing people say is, "Gene was a great dude, a funny person, with a great heart. He could make anyone crack up laughing in seconds."

Gene loved music. This was his escape & how he expressed his life. Through words and music he could try to express what he was feeling. Music was everything to him. Not a morning went by where he didn't wake up, turn the computer on, burn a CD. That was a daily routine. Everyday, he had to make a new CD for the car. This is how you knew what kind of day he was going to have, by hearing that morning CD, whether it was classic rock or old school hip hop or even a Motown CD. This expressed his feelings that he woke to. The type of music that was going to be played that morning for the ride to work/shop would soothe him or get him excited and happy and ready to go to work or work out on the punching bag. So much music he related to in his life from childhood memories or present issues and emotions he was dealing with. Music was Gene's escape.

Boxing was another strong passion for him. He loved boxing since he was a kid. He wanted to become a boxer. This was his dream. He felt he could excel at boxing. It was in his heart and soul. If there was one thing he was sure of, he was confident about his drive and skills to become a boxer. This is why I call him my "knockout." The faith was strong with this and his dream was strong and felt he could make it one day to be a boxer. He will always be our Champion in my eyes.

Mustangs, oh the mustangs. He loved to rebuild cars, especially the early 1990 model Mustangs. He had just finished rebuilding a beautiful 1990 Mustang. He poured his heart and soul into rebuilding that car. He was so extremely proud of what he accomplished. He also loved his 1974 Baracuda. This car he treasured since it was his father's pride and joy and was given to him as a gift. He treasured that car and it now became his "baby" since it was once his father's "baby." This car meant so much to him since he knew his father poured his heart and soul into rebuilding it from scratch and loved his son so much he would give him this car, his "baby." Gene continued to do work on the Baracuda. He wanted to improve it and make it louder, faster but most importantly, make his Dad proud. He wanted to show his Dad how much he loved him through this car.

Fishing was another part of Gene's life. This was when he was most at peace. Fishing set his mind free. He was so calm and relaxed, so carefree all his troubles so far away. Whether he was fishing on a boat or on a pier this was his relaxing time, time to feel at peace.

Gene had a great giving heart. He wanted to give to people and make people smile. He would give his last $5 in his pocket to a homeless man on the street. This made him feel good. And would speak to the person and try to give them some knowledge. He spoke and reached out to people anywhere he went. He touched many lives in his lifetime. He wanted to let people know there is a better life, there is happiness. You have to have faith in God. God will see you through it. Gene had such a strong faith in God. He would write & pray to God daily. His faith was so powerful with God. One of his famous lines he used all the time is,"But for the Grace of God," which he learned in AA Meetings. Another prayer he said daily was the serenity prayer. "God is Good" another saying from AA Gene used all the time. And so many more.

He is dearly missed and will forever be loved just as he was when he was alive. Gene is the type of person you were grateful to have met in your life and if you never did most people wish they did. He truly was one of a kind. He can never be replaced nor will he ever be forgotten.

Submitted by: Tina Dore on January 9, 2006