Obituary: Eugene Hallman, 1950-2024

Gene (“Geno”) Hallman of Richmond, Vt., passed away April 18 at
the University of Vermont Medical Center, surrounded by the love of
his family.

Gene was born and
raised in Pennsylvania, the son of Eugene and Rosemary (nee
Dougherty) Hallman. They filled Gene’s early life with love and
were deeply involved in his upbringing, providing carefree summers at
the shore, camping trips, ocean fishing and scouting. They taught him
to love the outdoors, especially the ocean, and throughout his life,
Gene maintained a love of the ocean and a responsibility to its
health. They instilled in him the values of honesty, leadership and
responsibility and, above all, taught him the absolute importance of
relationships and family. These principles guided his entire life.

Gene attended
Mansfield State College to pursue a degree in elementary education,
but his education was cut short when he was drafted for Vietnam. He
sustained injuries during his basic training that prevented him from
serving overseas, and after his recovery, he launched his career in
the early and burgeoning field of computer technology, traveling
throughout the country for Sperry Univac, where he worked as a
systems analyst. He made his dearest lifelong friends from his work
there and began his participation in the
“ski club.” Gene and his friends would travel weekly from
Pennsylvania to Sugarbush to ski from dawn to dusk, while renting a
ski house in the Mad River Valley. He became an expert skier and was
able to ski in the French Alps at Chamonix.

Throughout his
travels, Gene always knew he would settle in Vermont, and he finally
made a permanent move in the ‘80s and sought work in Vermont doing
a variety of computer-related jobs for Universal Microsystems,
McCauliffe, and finally for the state of Vermont, where he was the
Health and Human Services Agency data processing chief. He went on to
work as chief of computer services for the state of Vermont, and then
director of the Government Consulting Group. He worked briefly as the
executive director of Economic Development for Northern Vermont until
illness prevented him from working. He was proud to finally complete
his elementary education degree through the Norwich University Adult
Degree Program and was able to work as a long-term sub, as his health
allowed. When his mobility declined, he worked locally at Smuggler’s
Notch and is remembered there by staff and guests for his gentle
presence and hospitality.

Gene believed in
giving back to his community and always found a way to volunteer. In
Dallas he volunteered at the Scottish Rite for Children hospital and
then in the ERs in Massachusetts hospitals. These shaped his desire
to pursue his EMT licensure, and he went on to become the head of the
Mad River Valley Ambulance. He was very active in Special Olympics
Vermont and served as executive director and also directed the summer
games. He volunteered in organizing the first Vermont City
Triathalon. He was a eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s in
Cambridge, Vt., and provided visitation for the sick and homebound.
Gene looked forward each year to his week relaxing at his beloved
Eagle Camp in South Hero and always managed to volunteer during work
week to set up camp for the season. When he could no longer do any
physical work, he still found a way to participate. As he became even
more physically limited, he found a way to volunteer by doing mapping
for the USGS online from home.

He met his future
wife, Sharon (Pepe), when they both worked on the set construction
crew for a Lyric Theater production, and they married in 1991.
Children soon followed, and his life’s magnum opus became parenting
his sons, Eric and Ben. He was a steady presence in their lives and
found great comfort watching them grow to be fine men. Gene adored
their partners and was in love with his new grandson, Hudson. His
family brought him much comfort in his final months.

Gene is survived by
his wife, Sharon; his sons, Eric (and wife Tiffany) and Ben (and
partner Abbie Zani); his grandson (and namesake), Hudson Eugene; his
sister, Catherine Grosshanten (and husband Gary); nephew Sam
Grosshanten (and partner Amy Golden); niece April Fish (and husband
Joel Tyson), and grandniece and grandnephew Allie and Logan Fish. He
also leaves his father-in-law, Anthony DaSilva, and his sister and
brother-in-law, Beverly Pepe and Charlie Roy. He was predeceased by
his parents and his nephew Gary Grosshanten Jr.

The family invites
everyone to an informal gathering of family and friends and
celebration of Gene’s life at the Richmond Free Library on
Saturday, May 18, at 5 p.m.

This article appears in The Animal Issue 2024.