SARATOGA SPRINGS —Eugene (Gene, Gino) Anthony Sevi, dedicated family man, humanitarian, inspiring educator and avid outdoorsman, died peacefully in his home, surrounded by family on Friday, April 26, 2024. He was 78.
Gene’s earliest memories were on the family farm in Martin’s Creek, PA, surrounded by his parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles. Close family ties, hard work, education, animals and farm life remained a theme throughout his life. After his family moved to NJ, he met his future wife, Jane Holjes, at North Hunterdon High school, where he excelled in both scholastics and athletics.
Gene always said that the biggest break of his life was receiving a full Naval ROTC scholarship to Brown University, where he received his degree in civil engineering. He then completed a master’s degree at the University of Colorado, before entering the Navy. He ultimately was able to combine his insatiable love of learning and his military background. He went on to be a well-loved educator of 38 years in civil and environmental engineering at Norwich University, a small military college, serving as department chair and dean for part of that time. Characterized by a calm demeanor and a diplomatic approach Gene also served four terms-12 years- as selectman and commissioner of roads in his hometown of Roxbury. Despite his many professional accolades and awards, Gene preferred to focus on his students. He was a humble man who was never one to talk about his many recognitions.
Gene’s military active duty started in the United States Navy, but after moving to Vermont he transferred into the Vermont Air National Guard. It was then that Gene’s military focus and outstanding leadership abilities were used to organize and lead humanitarian and peacekeeping missions around the world. Assignments included coordination of disaster relief in building schools and clinics in impoverished areas of Jamaica, Mali, West Africa, and Panama. During the Kosovo crisis in the late 1990’s, he acted as chief of the military liaison team in Macedonia, where he coordinated with NATO command and aid groups to respond to the influx of 300,000 refugees flooding into Macedonia. After September 11, 2011, he served a year coordinating air space security over US cities. When speaking of his military career, he often spoke of his respect and admiration for his compatriots who accompanied him on these missions. He retired as a Brigadier General in 2004.
During his forty years in Vermont, Gene’s interest in training and driving carriage horses became a treasured hobby. He was trained as a farrier, so he could shoe his own horses. He and Jane vacationed with their horses and often offered rides to friends and neighbors. His many interests included all things outdoors, including moonlit cross-country ski trips, training hunting dogs, archery, chess, basketball during lunch breaks at the university, bike riding and gardening. He was a voracious reader, and had the ability to retain even the most minute facts. He entertained all those who knew him with his wonderful stories and funny quips. After retirement, tennis and bicycling with Jane and family became his main athletic outlets. Gene was often also found at his grandchildren’s sporting events, enthusiastically watching every move.
He is remembered lovingly by his wife, Jane Sevi, son, Adam Sevi and his daughters Sophia and Elizabeth, daughter, Rachel Sevi and her son, Joseph, and Rebekah (Chris) More and their children, Nate, Bryce and Luke and his faithful brothers and sister, Al Sevi (Tommie), Chris Sevi, and Peggy (Pat) Quadrini and their families, numerous other relatives and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Alfred Sevi and Margaret (Lucrezi) Sevi.
Spiritually, always a churchgoer, but not one to talk about religious things, he instead lived his faith. He and his wife were a team couple with the Catholic Marriage Encounter group and he grew in his faith in his final years. He will be remembered for his outgoing, gentle, kind and generous spirit and life of service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the American Cancer Society.
A celebration of life will be held at Christ the King Center, in Greenwich, NY, on May 22 at 3 p.m. with dinner to follow.
For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com
