Eugene Patrick Lawless

Eugene Patrick Lawless, 68 of Monrovia California died on May 22, 2020 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital after a yearlong illness. Gene was the fifth of nine children born to Eugene and Elaine (McManus) Lawless at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, New York. He was raised in Glen Cove, New York and was a member of St Patrick's Parish where he was an altar server and attended St. Patrick's Elementary School. Gene was a graduate of Glen Cove High School, the New York State Agricultural College at Cobleskill, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Starting in high school Gene immersed himself in the hospitality industry. His career included food service management positions at Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University Department of Dining Services, where he was instrumental in creating the award winning Cross Country Gourmet Series, Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services at the University of California, and master planning for food services for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. For the last 25 years Gene was a Vice President and Senior Consultant for Fessel International, specializing in strategic planning for the hospitality industry. His domestic and international projects included, among many others, the American Girl Place, Universal Studios CityWalk, Disneyland, Tamarind of London, and Legoland.

Gene was a charismatic and loving person with stellar taste in music and a wonderful sense of humor. As a father, he encouraged his children's imaginations, independence, and mischievous curiosities with wonderful stories of his travels and fanciful tall tales. He was skilled at fine woodworking and enjoyed designing Mission style furniture. In the last year Gene especially enjoyed creating a welcoming garden and entertaining there with his wife Edie.

Gene is survived by his loving wife Edie Ramirez of Monrovia, his daughters, Erin Lawless (spouse Darryl Wagner) and Sarah Lawless (fiancé Frank Fielder) of Denver, Colorado, his sons, Eoghan Lawless of San Diego, California and Conor Lawless of Chicago, Illinois, and his grandson August Wagner of Denver. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers and their spouses, Elaine and Anthony McCann, Patricia and James Downey, James and Mary Lawless, Robert McManus, and David and Lisa Lawless and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene was predeceased by his parents Eugene and Elaine Lawless, his brother Thomas and sisters Cathleen and Mary Lawless.

Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family at a date to be determined. Donations in Gene's memory may be made to the Mary Lawless Employee Scholarship Fund attn. Saratoga Bridges Chapter of the NYS Assoc for Retarded Citizens, 16 Saratoga Bridges Boulevard, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.