Eugene "Gene" W. Geer Jr., 92, of Hazlet, NJ, passed away peacefully on April 9th, 2026. Born in Barrington, RI, Gene earned a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from New York University. He served honorably as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He launched a distinguished career in telecommunications, doing research at Bell Labs for 25 yrs, Bellcore and retiring from Telcordia.

A man of diverse talents, Gene lived his life to the fullest. He piloted his plane. As an avid scuba diver, he enjoyed diving off his boat and traveled across the globe for underwater explorations. He loved traveling, exercising (bowling, running) and volunteering.

Gene was a pillar of environmental preservation in New Jersey, dedicating his time to the American Littoral Society, Clean Ocean Action, and the NY/NJ Baykeeper.

"Gene’s deep passion for science and marine life led him to become a founding father of Clean Ocean Action, a spin-off organization from the American Littoral Society dedicated to ending ocean dumping and pollution. His leadership on the Board of Trustees, along with his wisdom and steady guidance, was instrumental in building the coalition into a strong and enduring voice for the ocean.

"Over the years, Gene volunteered countless hours—sharing knowledge at dive shows and boat expos, participating in environmental events, testifying at hearings, and educating federal and state officials. His commitment was unwavering, and he was joined throughout this journey by his wife, Panse, whose support and partnership strengthened his work and legacy.

Gene Geer’s lifelong, visionary devotion to the ocean leaves an enduring legacy. His guidance, dedication, and passion were vital in helping to end ocean dumping, eliminate garbage slicks, and make ocean waters healthy again for all marine life. He is a true-blue hero of the ocean." - Cindy Zipf, Executive Director, Clean Ocean Action (COA)

With a strong sense of humor, Gene enjoyed making jokes, at times with a good touch of sarcasm. He was easily amused by Panse's strong Romanian accent with "asparagus" being at the top of the list.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 31 years (Panse), his step-daughter (Ioana and her husband Craig) and his grandchildren (Alex and David).

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