Gene had his eyes on Broadway even before he left Birmingham for the Northwestern University’s School of Communication Speech and Theatre program. He and Lola Mae Jones Coates graced the floor of the Steeple Arts Academy of Dance in Birmingham. At Northwestern, Gene starred in many performances, none more special than Northwestern’s acclaimed own annual original musical, The Waa-Mu Show. He led on the football field as well as head cheerleader, bringing a bold dynamic to the squad’s routines and the crowd’s enthusiasm. Gene took the squad cross-country for Northwestern’s Rose Bowl appearance in 1949, making radio news headlines as he cartwheeled off the train in a raccoon coat and straw hat. When the Wildcats earned their second appearance in 1996, Gene provided an encore performance of that entrance at the alumni dinner.
It was his special combination of graceful, creative movement along with his articulate, expressive speech and leadership talent that marked Gene’s career as director and choreographer. All the world was truly his stage. He made New York City his base for the early dancing days in commercials and live TV shows. Gene added director and producer credits as well for Voice of Firestone, Dinah Shore, Dave Garroway and CBS Children and Repertory Theater Shows. Television also broadcast his performing arts touch for the Michigan Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Miss USA, Miss Universe, America’s Junior Miss, Mrs. America and Mrs. World pageants.
His love of Broadway was memorialized for all when he created the staging for the show stopping Telephone Hour and “Lot of Living” numbers in Bye, Bye Birdie and for Carnival. Gene recreated these shows for international and over 150 regional and summer stock tours. His last professional performance was A Chorus Line at the summer Musicals at Richter in Danbury, Connecticut. Gene fulfilled the dreams of younger amateurs who “had to get that job” in the Staples High School musical productions in Westport, Connecticut. He paired with music director George Weigle over many years for extraordinary experiences for cast and audience alike, including a few of the signature acts from Carnival.
Gene was in the forefront of the taking the power of music and presentation – live, film/video and digital – to the business sector. His international experience made him a trusted producer of product launches and corporate meetings for executives of many Fortune 500 companies. Minolta, Nabisco and GE Capital relied on Gene as did Chevrolet, Cadillac and Pontiac. Add to that list Exxon, Monroe, Frigidaire, Coca-Cola, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Singer, Ford, Oil of Olay, Scott Paper, Oldsmobile, General Foods, Crown Fork Lift, CIT, Kodak, AFA, Vector Graphics, Practicing Law Institute and National Chamber of Commerce.
While Gene’s work took him to places around the world, his home, his community and his church were where his heart always resided. He served as vice president of the Connecticut Ballet School. He and Madeline supported Catholic education for their children and led by example with daily prayer and active participation at weekly Mass and parish activities. Gene brought a special touch to his readings at Mass for years at Church of the Assumption in Westport and later at St. Francis Church in Weston as well as his contribution to parish events. He also loved supporting the creation of new theatrical works and new talent. Gene was a member of Actors’ Equity and The Lambs.
Donations in Gene’s memory to The Lambs Foundation have been provided by: Paula Adler, Anastasia Voight, Laurie Sizemore, Sandy Bria, Linda Blaskey, Patti J. Phillips, Rose Capuano, Anna Allen-Ruoff, Carol Auster, Jane Deardorff, Karen Heistand, Nichole Gehman, Mary B. Allen, Elizabeth Land, Lori Ben-Ari, Mike and Kathy Higgins