Eugene Francis Congdon, 92, peacefully passed away July 9, 2019, at his home in Tampa, Florida. Gene was born Oct. 1, 1926, in Great Barrington, the fourth son of Helen Hiles Congdon and Frederick Congdon.
Growing up in Great Barrington, Gene was an avid skier, horseback rider, Boy Scout, baseball player and, like his brothers, a golf enthusiast. He served in the U.S. Air Force in 1943 and, upon returning after the war, he returned to University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned a Bachelor of Science in nutrition. This led to a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry, which took Gene and his family to many locations through the years, including Florida, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, New York and Oklahoma. His last 30 years were spent in Tampa, Florida, where he owned SHELLS Restaurant. He was loved by so many customers through the years for presenting great seafood and service, and always being a caring, kind and charming host.
He is survived by family members who have loved him so much and benefitted from his work ethic, faith in God, kindness and generosity. Gene and Sharon were long standing members of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. The following will miss him mightily and cherish his memory: wife Sharon Congdon; daughters Jeanette Feeney (William), Karen Swarzbaugh (Charles), Tracey Baucom (Clint), Jill Ramsten, Lesley Keller and Janice Greene; grandchildren Lura Huddleston, Patricia Hall (Austin), Michael Feeney (Catherine), Jeremy Darr (Lauren), Neal Gynther, Caitlind Stanga (Mark), Matthew, Christopher and Timothy Feeney, Lauren Dickerson (Matthew) and Taylor Howell; great-grandchildren Aria, Kendrick and Elijah McMillan, Wyatt Huddleston, Thomas, Catherine and Caroline Darr, and Will and Alphie Dickerson; and his faithful LOLA. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Fred Congdon (Barbara), Raymond Congdon (Kay) and Daniel Congdon (Ann); and his wife, Eunice Chastain Congdon.
A funeral mass will be held Saturday, July 20, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Great Barrington, with Reverend William P. Murphy, pastor, officiating. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local humane society or food bank. Words of comfort may be expressed for Gene’s family at loylessfuneralhomes.com.
