Gene David Six

Gene D. Six passed away on September 29, 2017 in Santa Barbara at age 92. Born August 16, 1925 in Independence, Missouri, he was the second of four boys born to Clarence and Daviejean Six who moved the family to Pasadena in 1930. WWII was raging while Gene was studying at Cal Tech, so he enlisted in the army and was assigned to a 2nd Army administrative post in Oregon. While there, he took civil engineering courses in the Army Specialized Training Program at Oregon State College, and typed up his own discharge papers at the end of his service in 1946 – a story he loved to tell!

Gene resumed his education at Cal Tech, where he excelled in math, and attained a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering in 1949. He worked for a time on the beginning stages of the Feather River Water Project, but soon discovered that teaching was his passion and changed careers, obtaining a Masters of Arts at Claremont Graduate School in 1956. However, every family vacation required a visit to any nearby dam, bridge or other feat of engineering.

In 1969 Gene attained a Doctorate in Education at USC. Due to his skill in teaching, organization and administration, he moved up the Pasadena education ladder rapidly, culminating in the position of Coordinator of Education K - 12 under Superintendent Ramon Cortines. After a brief interlude as a real estate broker, Gene returned to education at Mount San Antonio College, where he was head of the business department until he retired. Long after retirement, Gene continued to volunteer at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora, where he was appointed the head of the volunteer program – a position that gave him great pride and satisfaction.

Gene was a member of Kiwanis and E Clampus Vitus and he and his wife were avid supporters of The Pasadena Playhouse.

Three children survive him: Brian Six of Oakdale, CA, Laura Six (Sayre Macneil) of Santa Barbara, CA and Neil (Patricia) Six of Tucson, AZ and five grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis in May of 2016.

A graveside service is set for 11:00 A.M., October 6, 2017 at Live Oak Memorial Park in Duarte, CA.