Gene R. Matusow ’57

Gene R. Matusow ’57 died unexpectedly on June 4. Gene graduated from White Plains (New York) High School. He majored in economics-pre-med, was in Tau Epsilon Phi, the Dartmouth Outing Club and the Glee Club. He earned his M.D. from SUNY Heath Science Center in Brooklyn, New York. Interest in skiing led him to an internship in Denver, which was followed by postgraduate work in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a residency at Manhattan (New York) Eye and Ear Hospital. He served as ophthalmologist for the U.S. Fifth Army in North Korea and at Fort Sam Houston, Colorado. After discharge, he bought a house in Armonk, New York, and began practice in his hometown of White Plains. The practice flourished and in due course Gene became chief of ophthalmology at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Gene had a second career in local politics, winning a seat as Democratic councilman on town board of North Castle (a heavily Republican town) and serving a total of eight years. He worked on many political campaigns in Westchester County, including that of his wife in the New York State Assembly. A man of many interests, he raised chickens, kept bees, was a skier, sailor, cyclist, golfer, hiker, banjo player, and table tennis player. In retirement he moved to Fountain Hills, Arizona, where he pursued country music, writing, performing, and recording with his band, Tumbleweed Two. Gene is survived by his wife, Naomi, sons Gary and Jason, and grandsons.