Eugene “Gene” Edmund, 83

Gene was born and raised in Malden. He was raised by his parents Eugene and Mary and he and his siblings Bob and Joan have wonderful memories of childhoods spent on Harris St. and Summer St. Growing up, he spent summers on Newfound Lake, visited grandparents and many cousins in Dorchester and was well versed in the Malden traditions of skating on the “Res,” sledding at 7 Bumps and had teenage jobs as paper boy and cutting grass at Holy Cross Cemetery. His close friends Robert Riccardi and Edward Reynolds have many memories from a friendship lasting decades, only some of which his family are privy to.

Gene married Beverly Robinson in 1967 and they raised their three beautiful daughters Jennifer Kirby, Judi Reardon Riley and Jane Pimental in Malden and later in Melrose. Theirs was a true partnership. They celebrated 58 years of marriage this year on May 27. They shared many wonderful times together on vacation with children, sons-in-law Fred and Billy and their six grandchildren Jack, Alexa, Julia, Freddy, Andrew and Alex. They had many friends with whom they celebrated every possible occasion and those friendships have stood the test of time. Through his marriage to Beverly, he received constant love and care and the two became a united front against anything that their children and the world itself put in their way to challenge them.

Gene loved education. He graduated from Malden Catholic, Suffolk University and Suffolk Law school following in the tradition of his father, a Malden Police captain who had done the same. Gene went on to work at the Malden Redevelopment Authority. Later, he worked at Malden District Court, retiring at age 75 as First Assistant Clerk Magistrate. Each day he was a witness to everything one could describe as wrong with our world today. He saw violence, substance abuse and callous disregard for right and wrong. Yet, he saw humanity and grace. He saw not just defendants, but those who took a wrong path or maybe weren’t allotted the blessings that he had. He was never judgmental. But he was cautious and used his experience to keep his daughters on the right path. He loved a comeback story. When those he loved stumbled along the way or if life didn’t turn out as they had hoped, he reveled in watching as they turned it around and remained standing. “Keep going” was one of his favorite expressions.

Gene was a wonderful father. To our knowledge, he wasn’t a bragger. But we were wrong. He believed in humility and “What’s doin’?” wasn’t just a greeting, it meant how and what are you doing. When his daughters got that question, it meant to clear your calendar for at least 15 minutes as it was time to account. He did the same for his grandchildren, but he didn’t have to ask. He was there. He attended sporting events no matter how cold, school plays, graduations and even dance recitals and when he would introduce his family to new people, it always seemed that they already knew who we were.

Gene was about family. He loved holidays with his nieces and nephews. He loved the Kimball Street neighbors and their children and considered them all family. Friends from Kiwanis, the legal community and their children were also a part of the family. His friends were aunts and uncles to his children and he was an uncle to theirs. He wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. There were large beach parties, ski trips though he couldn’t ski, trips to every New England location from Edaville Railroad to Plymouth Plantation. And the blizzard of 78’ with its shoveling parties and night sledding until midnight were legendary.

Socially, Gene was a leader and innovator. He founded the Shark Jr. swim team in West Dennis and created new rules and techniques for playing Trivial Pursuit and Yankee Swaps. Gene worked hard and played hard. He worked three jobs so that his children could graduate college without a cent of student debt. He worked around the clock as a bail bondsman and taught law classes weeknights at UMASS Lowell. But, he still made time to instruct his family on the proper way to rock out to “Your Mama Don’t Dance” or “Sea Cruise” involving standing on a coffee table while strumming a broom.

Outside of the home, Gene liked to keep neighbors who had fallen asleep in screened porches on their toes by crawling up next to them in the dark and impersonating a lion. Music and laughter were everything to him. From Cold Play to Chuck Berry, songs narrated his life. Humor as well. When the worst would happen, he would retort with “Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” Often, his daughters didn’t know if they were laughing or crying and he would ask. Humor was the test given to boyfriends he would meet for the first time. He would answer the door in costume, introduce them immediately to family pets and pretend he didn’t know who we were when the phone rang or else impersonate a local pizza shop. If you know you know and his family knows.

Gene was a fierce advocate and dedicated supporter of all he loved. The phrase “you can’t go in there” simply didn’t apply to Gene. He thought it was a suggestion. Reardon’s made their own rules. Too many nurses, school personnel, ticket takers and on found this out the hard way. When someone needed him, he was on it. Rules, laws and speed limits were irrelevant. Getting there was. No one was safe, no problem was over, nothing was out of the woods until he declared it so.

We will miss Gene and his humor, grace and love. We will also miss his nicknames, world famous steaks and colorful commentary of politics and current events. But we rest assured that somewhere in Heaven there sits a man with a scali cap and half burnt cigar watching Seattle Slew or Affirmed running once again and in the background Jerusalem bells are ringing and Roman Catholic choirs are singing. We know that he is in good company and will rest in peace. Because he has to, one day his three daughters and loving wife will be there to join him.

Visiting hours were held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Wednesday, July 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Immaculate Conception Church, 600 Pleasant St., Malden on Thursday, July 31 at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. Interment followed at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. To sign online condolence, visit gatelyfh.com.