On Tuesday morning, July 22, 2014 Eugene F. Bennett, Jr. made his transition to his heavenly home.
Eugene F. Bennett, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, N. Y, on December 1, 1939. His parents Eugene F. Bennett, Sr., and Marguerite L. Bennett placed him on the cradle roll of Bridge Street AWME Church shortly after his birth. When old enough he joined the Bridge Street AWME Church Sunday School. At age eight, Eugene became an alter boy at the church and served for many years until he became a cross bearer.
Eugene and his siblings became the third generation of the Bennett family to worship at Bridge Street AWME Church.

Eugene was educated in the New York City Public School System, attending kindergarten through 8th grade at P.S. 129, in Brooklyn, NY. During the nine years at P.S. 129, Eugene achieved "Honor Roll" status in all subjects. His leadership ability was recognized and rewarded by being appointed head of the boy's service and audio/visual squads. While in the 8th grade, Eugene took and passed the test for admission to Brooklyn Technical High School, one of the three special high schools in the New York City Public School System. In recognition of service rendered and academic excellence achieved, upon graduation from P.S. 129, Eugene was selected along with 3 other students from the Class of 1953, to be permanently listed on the schools "Honor Plaque."

At Brooklyn Technical High School, Eugene studied the "Electrical Course"; a curriculum specifically designed to prepare students for college undergraduate "Electrical Engineering." During the four years at Brooklyn Technical High School he frequently achieved "Honor Roll" status. His participation in athletics, namely track/field and cross-country were noteworthy. During his tenure at Brooklyn Tech he was a winner of many significant individual and relay team events specifically: Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Brooklyn 880 and 1000 yard, PSAL City 880 yard individual championships, New York State sprint medley relay championship and the High School Championship of America (Penn Relays) distance medley relay championship. His strength in leadership was recognized when elected, by his peers and coaches to the position of captain of both track and cross-country teams. In addition to receiving an academic diploma at the 1957 Brooklyn Tech graduation ceremony, Eugene was awarded a medal, signifying him as the outstanding athlete of the 1957 graduating class. As a result of academic excellence demonstrated and athletic achievement Eugene was granted a full four-year scholarship to New York University (NYU), School Of Engineering, commencing September 1957.

Between September 1957 and June 1961, Eugene attended NYU, studying electrical engineering. During his enrollment, Eugene became a member of the Air Force R.O.T.C. The result of his participation in cross-country and track/field were similar to that achieved in high school. He won many individual races, notably, the Metropolitan Intercollegiate championship at distances of 880 and 1000 yards. He was a member of relay teams that set school records at distances of two and four miles. Leadership qualities
exhibited led to being elected by his peers and coaches to position of captain of the track team in his junior year, an honor usually bestowed only to eligible seniors. He was again elected captain in his senior year. Upon successful completion of the requisite course of study, Eugene received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Degree in June 1961.

After graduating from NYU, Eugene was hired by Hazeltine Corporation (currently part of BAE SYSTEMS, one of the largest defense electronics developers in the world,) located in Little Neck, Queens, and N.Y. During his forty years of service, he held various positions including design engineer, section head of test engineering group and individual contributor. Initially he was assigned to a group devoted to the design and development of airborne military radar systems. Subsequent assignments led to design and development of special test equipment required to test and evaluate Hazeltine's deliverable products such as radar/surveillance display systems for AWACS, F4, F16, and F18 aircraft. Some other interesting projects included development of test equipment for Hazeltine's computer terminals, the Luner Excursion Module (LEM), FAA Microwave Landing System, one of the world's first cellular telephone antenna systems and IFF systems. His last title was "Senior Member Technical Staff."

In March 1983, the Harlem Branch YMCA honored Eugene at their annual Black Achievers In Industry Dinner, in recognition of his accomplishments at Hazeltine. Eugene retired from Hazeltine/BAE SYSTEMS in July 2001.

On October 27, 1962, Eugene married Vivian Elizabeth Peterson of Brooklyn, N.Y. Initially they resided at the Bennett homestead, 446 Hancock St., Brooklyn, N.Y. until they purchased their home in Cambria Heights, N.Y., in 1968. In August 1972, Vivian gave birth to their son, Eugene Fenwick Bennett, III.
Eugene Fenwick Bennett, Sr., Eugene's father was the scoutmaster of Troop 259, at Bridge Street AWME Church. Pop and Cappie Field formed the drum and bugle corps at Bridge Street, composed primarily of members from the Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. Because of his father's affiliation with the scout department, Eugene was able to join the Pop and Cappie Field Drum and Bugle Corps. Needless to say, he became intrigued and wanted to be involved. At age eight Eugene joined the Bluejacket Guard, a Sea Scout organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y. He joined their band initially playing the bugle then later moved to the drums. After many years of hard work and practice, he became the student leader of the musical unit. He maintained membership with the Bluejacket organization until 1957. Between 1957 and 1961, Eugene participated with and taught the percussion section of the Pop and Cappie Drum And Bugle Corps at Bridge Street AWME Church.

After graduating from college, Eugene volunteered his time as the assistant director and business manager of the Privateers, a Brooklyn based junior drum and bugle corps. He also joined the color guard of Washington Carver Senior Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, N.J. When the Newark Corps disbanded in 1965, Eugene joined the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps, based in Mineola, N.Y. During the next 25 years Eugene held many positions with the organization, including color guard captain/instructor, drum major and drill designer/instructor. During his tenure the corps won many championships, including the American Legion N.Y. State and National titles and four DCA World Championship titles.

After a brief retirement from drum corps. Eugene joined the staff of the world famous Caballeros from Hawthorne, N.J. as a marching instructor and advisor. During the ten-year period 1995-2005, the corps captured two DCA World Championship titles. In addition to Eugene's involvement with the senior drum corps movement, he has written drills and taught many award winning junior drum and bugle corps and high school marching bands in the New York Metropolitan area.

The expertise acquired through his involvement with the "marching arts" led to being certified as a judge for drum and bugle corps/marching band competitions. He was a founding member of the International Judges Association, Drum Corps East Judges Association, and Cavalcade Of Bands Association. Eugene has judged many competitions throughout the country and was selected on three different occasions to adjudicate championship competitions in Jamaica, West Indies.

In 2002 Eugene was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall Of Fame. He was the first living African American to receive this honor. (Note: James Prime, Sr. was inducted posthumously in 1993.)
When Eugene was not busy with the many drum and corps obligations, he enjoyed working with wood. He designed and constructed many projects for his home including covers for steam radiators, cabinets, tables, and beds. His last project was to build an entertainment center to accommodate a large screen LCD TV. Another project that Eugene was working on is the building of a replica of a 1929 Mercedes Benz. This project was started in early 1990's with no estimated completion date. Who will complete this project! Conrad (smile.)

Eugene leaves to mourn his wife of 51 years, Vivian Elizabeth, son, Eugene F. Bennett, III, Sisters, Joan V. Bennett, Marilyn Elaine (William) Odol, Constance Harrell, Brother, Richard A. Bennett. Nephews, Kenneth R. Brewster, Conrad J. Odol, Corey W. Odol. Nieces, Christine M. Bennett, PhD, Michelle Marquis, Tiffany Marquis and Cierra Harrell and a host of family and friends. Two sisters Marie Brewster and Elizabeth Bennett pre-deceased him.

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