MMM June 2001
Malley-Mate Data Sheet
Name: Gene
Approx Age: deceased
Nationality: USA
   Gene and family moved to the house behind us in 1960 and through that decade they were my second family. In recognition of the amount of times that his son, Steve, and I would go between our two properties he made an opening in the fence (so we would stop climbing it).
The main general image I hold of Gene is that of him sitting at the kitchen table reading a thick paperback book with a cigarette in his hand, the ash about an inch or so long because he would forget that he was smoking, being so engrossed in the story unfolding in his head. The main specific image finds him sitting at the same spot at the table but creating a plaque. I don't remember who it was for, but it had a tractor coming out of its center. There were a lot of words on it and I was so amazed that he was doing the whole thing in reverse. Such small lettering and, of course, each one being perfectly formed. I never did cotton on to the men and shapes he formed with individual blobs of thumb-print clay. But I guess that shows the range that he had, being able to be so precise and then turn out something abstract.
One of things that made him "cool" was his bass speaker. A monster in size and it had a blue/purplish light. Steve and I would crank it up when his parents weren't home. I had a chance to know him a little better while at high school, because he would give me a ride in to the city. I guess I would do anything to save a little money because we left at 6AM! And when Gene said "6AM", he meant 6AM. I know because one day I was about 30 seconds late and he left without me. He and I exchanged postage stamps. He made statues (busts?) of men (corporation CEOs etc...). He was an excellent painter - mostly watercolor. During WWII he was a map drawer in Africa and Italy.
When Gail and I visited the evening went on and on drinking his homemade rhubarb and cherry wines...Gene disappeared and reappeared in his pyjamas - the hint was taken.
obit.
197519762008