Gene's accomplishments are legion. One of his titles has to be Mr. Beach History. Every summer he organizes and leads at least three historical walks in the area. They have become so popular that often between 50 and 100 people show up to hear Gene's vast knowledge of his community's past. He is also active in the Beach and East York Historical Society , organizing many of the speakers for their monthly meetings. He is willing at a moments's notice to talk on history to any group, and has given a number of workshops teaching others how to do historical research. His passion for preserving historical buildings is Toronto-wide, and Gene served for a number of years on the Toronto Historical Board.

Another area that receives a lot of Gene's time is Community Centre 55's Share A Christmas program ( he also serves on CC55's board). In addition he helps to run collections for the Daily Bread Food Bank. One of his longest standing volunteer commitments is helping to distribute the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund Gift boxes... Rose Cudney, Executive Director of the Toronto Star Children's Charities, said, "Gene has been distributing boxes for 42 years, and , over the years, he has delivered more than 15,000 gift boxes in Parkdale. "He's amazing," Cudney said, "most of our volunteers are organizations. Gene does on his own...We have come to depend on him."

As a board member for the Beaches Recreation Centre, Gene is one of the people who puts together events like the Spring Sprint. He fought to make the centre wheelchair accessible, which allowed the Pegasus project to use that facility.

St. John's, St. Denis and Corpus Christi Schools would be poorer without Gene's many contributions, as would the SOS and SOB committees (Save the Leuty Lifeguard Station and Save the Boathouse).

Gene is a strong believer in religious freedom and tolerance, and has the courage to stand up for his convictions. He has worked with many of the local churches, and particularly with the Beach Hebrew Institute ( synagogue ), to fight religious/racial hatred and bigotry. One of Gene's finer moments was being kicked out of a large toy store for insisting they remove Nazi graffiti from their bathroom walls. On September 14, it was Gene who organized the memorial service for the Day of Mourning at the Community Millennium Garden.

Gene is one of those rare individuals who doesn't worry about taking credit for what he does. He has seldom served as the chair of any of the organizations he is involved with, but when something needs doing-Gene does it. He is there with the BBQ for your fundraiser, he knows where to get extra tables or a good speaker for your meeting. To paraphrase W.P. Kinsella, If you need him, he will come.

His thoughtfulness led him to install a park bench in front of his Lee Avenue home so that seniors would have a place to rest when they walked up the hill from Queen.

As Bob Murdoch puts it, "It's difficult to track him, but his footprints are everywhere...His contributions are like colourful thread that runs through so much of the fabric of the Beach."

While Gene is known throughout the Beach for his good works for worthy organizations, he is cherished by his family, friends and neighbours. He is truly an original, and a perfect choice for the first Citizen of the Year.

He is a human convenience store for people with problems that must be solved because he is available 24 hours a day seven days a week no questions asked and no thanks expected.

Gene is always there if there is a sidewalk that needs shoveling or a tree needs saving or someone needs a ride to the grocery store or to a medical appointment.

Half the residents of the Beach owe Gene a debt of thanks for services rendered and he'll get around to the other half when, and if, he ever finds the time.

His actions seldom receives public attention but without them the neighbourhood would be a poorer place indeed.

Carole Stimmell-Beach Metro News. Drawing by Bill Suddick.