Eugene "Gene" Mayton Snook of Melbourne, FL passed away in his home on March 21, 2023 at the age of 91. Gene was born in Manila, Philippines to Roger M. Snook and Josefa Villalobos on November 15, 1931 and was preceded in death by his older sister Lily Snook (Gonzalez, Piteo). At 13 years old, Gene arrived with his father in San Francisco, CA, starting his American dream and eventually joining his sister in the New York City area.

He served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster's office in Fort Lee, VA, then worked at Rutland Lumber (Schenectady, NY) where he got his carpentry skills and affinity for tools. For a large part of his career, he was a Prudential Agent in the Schenectady area. He later moved to Florida relocating from Miami to Melbourne where he became an active volunteer and singer all through his 80's. Already an octogenarian, Gene used to say, "I'm going over to the 'old folks home' to sing."

Gene married Agnes Patricia O'Reilly (Pat Snook) in 1951 and they are survived by three children, Deborah (Euclid, OH), Pamela (New York, NY), and Roger (Shepherdstown, WV); two grandchildren, Conner and Carina; a nephew, Benjamin (Claire) Piteo, of Barbados , and numerous other nieces and nephews.

He left behind vivid stories and memories:

- Teasing a water buffalo in the Filipino countryside

- Running through the bombed-out streets of Manila to find his family

- Visiting the Japanese Civilian POW Camp where his dad was imprisoned

- Bonding with American sailors and wearing their gifted navy uniform (tailored by his mother)

- Walking door to door on Central Avenue to find work in Schenectady

- Performing with local theater troupes in Schenectady, acting, singing, dancing, including donning a coconut bra and grass skirt for a backyard luau

- Excelling in insurance sales

- Leading Kiwanis (Rotterdam, NY), Elks (Melbourne, FL), Filipino American Association of Brevard County

- Volunteering for Meals on Wheels, Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, AmeriCorps Vista, Florida Supreme Court Guardian Ad Litem Program, National Senior Service Corps, and medical missions to the Philippines

- Building a deck at the age of 83

- Watching John Wayne movies

- Singing "My Way" hundreds of times

A family memorial service will be private. More memories at Facebook.com/GeneSnook In lieu of a memorial service, donations are welcomed to Aging Matters in Brevard at https://agingmattersbrevard. org/