Eugene Richard Corrigan's Obituary
Our dad Eugene R. Corrigan, known as Gene to friends and family, was born on February 21, 1937 in Spokane, Washington, to the late Donald J. and Annette (Dube) Corrigan. Our loving father passed away on March 9, 2025 in San Diego, California two weeks after his 88th birthday.
After graduating from North Central High School in 1955 in Spokane he enlisted in the Navy, becoming an instrument man. His sea service and foreign service in Japan totaled almost 2 years. After active service he returned to Spokane and worked at the aluminum plant. He met our mother a few years later. He married Penelope (Reeves) in 1960 and they began their family, having a son and then twin daughters soon after.
In his youth he developed a lifelong interest in cars that fueled long-time friendships. Dad liked nice cars and Jaguars in particular. Just one example of his love and support, he sold his hard-earned Jaguar to purchase a washer and drier for his young, growing family. He always did the right thing for us. He worked hard as a traveling salesman based in Portland for years, then in the early 1990’s became a realtor—a profession he took great pride in. After his retirement in 2003 he and Mom moved to San Diego and made it their home since spring 2004.
Gene always supported his family, whether it was track, swimming, water polo, or music lessons, he attended numerous concerts and sports events. He gave us supplies to build tree forts, bicycles to ride, and made our berry-picking buckets, the berries going into Sunday morning’s blackberry pancakes. He spent time with his grandchildren at the park, snow skiing, sailing his remote-control sailboat—he loved children and played with them on their level.
He was an avid outdoorsman, teaching himself to downhill ski, and then bringing us kids into the sport and teaching us. He volunteered for his children when they joined their high school ski team. He began hunting from a young age and was in the newspaper with his first deer. He was pleased to have access to deer, elk and antelope hunting grounds again in mid-life. Never taking an opportunity for granted, he willingly helped with projects on the farm and for family—often the most hot, dusty and miserable jobs. He was there to help family on home improvement projects with flooring, cabinetry, painting, patio and cement pouring. Besides hiking the canyons during hunting season, he took flying lessons, sailed his boat the Pickpocket, and enjoyed frequent trips to the Oregon Coast.
He believed that science held answers to many questions, so after his diagnosis of dementia he entered a clinical study lasting 10 years. It did not yield a miraculous treatment or cure, but it was a valuable and dedicated effort in the search for answers.
His wife Penny passed away in 2019. Gene is survived by his children, Brian Corrigan, Brenda (Darren) Padget, Gretchen K. Corrigan Lile; grandchildren Ryan, Shane, Logan (Stephanie) and Kylie, and two great-granddaughters; his sister Janice Faris and numerous nieces and nephews. A service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org in memory of Eugene R. Corrigan.
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