Eugene (Gene) E. Turner grew up in Breezy Point and developed a love of the water. As a young man, he was a lifeguard, and he surfed and enjoyed kay­acking. He brought that passion to Babylon Village when he moved here and passed it on to his children. He also left them a legacy of commitment to community, said his daughter Susan Turner Moore. "He had a great sense of commitment and believed that Babylon was our town and we had to do what­ever we could to make it better," said Turner. "That was a value he instilled in us." Gene Turner died June 14, 2008. He was 86 years old.

Eugene (Gene) E. Turner His daughter recalls how her father built the fam­ily's first home in Babylon on Araca Road and how he would make toys for his children in a small wood­work shop. "He would also take us out on to the beach and teach us how to swim and row in a small dinghy," she said.

"We met Gene and his wife when we first moved to Babylon years ago," said Fran Pasch of Babylon. "He was a wonderful family man and had a great sense of humor."

Pasch also remembers that Mr. Turner was a won­derful dancer and loved sailing on the Great South Bay. Her husband Bob, worked with Mr. Turner at the Conklin House, and recalls a man who was tal­ented, creative and a valued member of the Conklin House Committee.

Bob Pasch recalls how the committee was strug­gling to come up with a plan to showcase the Conk­lin House chimney stone, which is tied in with the history of the Village of Babylon. It was Mr. Turner who suggested that it be housed in a specially de­signed cabinet and placed in the Federal Room of the Conklin House for all to see and enjoy. "He not only came up with the way in which to display the stone, but also designed the cabinet and supervised the construction of it.," said Bob Pasch.

"He made many contributions to the Village and he will be missed," said Joy Torrey a longtime acquain­tance of the Turner family. His friend and longtime companion Elizabeth Karoly described Mr. Turner as a gentleman who al­ways made her feel like a lady. "Gene gave me two gifts; one was the Village of Babylon and the other was Gene Turner," she said.

Mr. Turner served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. An electrical engineer, he also volunteered with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and instructor on the Great South Bay. He was also a member of the Babylon Yacht Club at one time.

Paul Steinberg of Babylon, a past Captain of Flotil­la 1-1, appointed Mr. Turner as Flotilla Commander and to the staff office division where he was respon­sible for supervising seven flotillas to ensure all craft were inspected and sea worthy.

"We have been friends for years and he contrib­uted a lot in terms of boating safety," said Steinberg.

Other organizations to which he belonged included the Babylon Village Historical Society, Methodist Choir and F.I.S. H. of Good Samaritan Hospital. In addition to his daughter Susan Turner Moore and her husband Arthur of New Hampshire, Mr. Turner is survived by his other children: Christine Peterson and her husband Pete of Morrision, Colorado; Mat­thew and his wife Phoebe of Leesburg, Virginia, and Gregory of West Palm Beach, Florida. His grand­children, Peter and Jessica Moore, and Angela and Nicholas Turner also survive him. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret, who died in 1992. A memorial service for Mr. Turner will be held Sat., July 19, 2008 at Babylon Methodist Church. Arrange­ments were under the direction of the Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, West Islip. Donations in his name can be made to the Conklin House/Babylon Village, or the Babylon Methodist Church Music fund.