Eugene Beauharnais Sydnor Jr. ’39

Gene died Sept. 9, 2003, in Richmond, where he lived all his life except for four years in the Navy during WWII. He served as an officer on the destroyer USS Shubrick and participated in the Normandy invasion on D-Day.

Gene was chairman of Southern Dept. Stores and president of Richmond Dry Goods Co. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1953-55 and the state Senate from 1955-59, and sponsored the bill that established the State Council on Higher Education.

On Sept. 12, his wife, Elaine, was sent the Virginia flag flown over the State Capitol that day, and with it a citation that read in part, "It is a small recognition of (Gene's) dedication and service to the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Gene was an avid and successful sailboat racer, completing 14 Newport-to-Bermuda races aboard his beloved boats, winning first in class and second overall in 1990. An art collector, he served as a trustee of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, donating several works from his own collection of marine paintings.

Besides Elaine, he is survived by three sons, two stepdaughters, three stepsons, and two grandchildren. To all, we extend our sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1939