Eugene E. “Gene” Hoopes, 74, of Hammonton, N.J., passed away on Sunday, August 29, 2021, at home with his loved ones by his side. He lost a battle with cancer.
Born in Camden, Gene grew up in Blue Anchor and settled in Hammonton. Gene graduated from Hammonton High School in 1966. He worked for Whitehall Laboratories, where he met his wife, Jane. They married in 1968. He then worked for NJ Bell as a lineman. He acquired his electrical contractor’s license and HVAC certifications and eventually retired from Verizon, where he had worked as a Mechanical Engineer and oversaw Building Maintenance. He and Jane started the Athlete’s Korner Sports Timing Systems in 1985, and they spent their weekends working road races; he continued doing so during his retirement after Jane passed. The friendships he made through his past careers and race business lasted his lifetime.
Gene was a kind and generous man with a brilliant mind; he had the ability to fix anything and if he didn’t know how to fix something he would research it. He had a love for fixing things and helping people. He excelled in anything mechanical or electrical, and he had a wealth of knowledge about it. His mind was like a catalog and his memory was incredible. His stories were always interesting, informative and entertaining. He could converse with anyone about anything.
Gene lost his parents at a very young age, but he was “adopted” by Jane’s family and was loved by all the Capellis, Penzas, and their extended family. He had many friends, from all walks of life, with whom he loved spending his time and considered many of them his extended family. His home was a place where everyone could stop by at any time, without having to call, because they knew they were always welcome. Gene was very close to all of them until he left the world. His passing left a huge hole in many hearts.
Gene loved trains, anything electrical, anything with an engine, and studying the weather. He had a collection of train memorabilia and enjoyed sharing his love of them, and heavy equipment with his grandson, Frankie, and his friends. Gene also cared for animals, especially horses and cats. He spent his down time with his daughter, Annie, and his granddaughter, Gianna, at the farm with their horses and travelling all around the East Coast to watch Gianna compete with her horses. A kind man, Gene was known to stop and help a turtle cross the road safely.
Gene enjoyed making wine with his neighbor, Anthony. They would then drink the wine with their friends and talk about trucks, politics and current events. They solved many of the world’s problems over a glass of wine.
He is predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth “Jane” Hoopes (nee Capelli); his parents, Marie (Davis) Hoopes and Eugene J Hoopes; his in-laws, Joseph and Anna Capelli; and his sister-in-law Joanna Capelli.
He is survived by his daughter, Ann Catherine Byers (Frank); his grandchildren, Frank Byers Jr. and Gianna Byers; his brothers- in-law, Joseph Capelli Jr. (Geneva) and Robert Capelli (Linda,); sisters-in-law, Maria Clark (George), Dr. Catherine Capelli Viers (Jeff) and Patricia Capelli; and his dear friend, Judy (Tomasello) O’Neill and her family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021, noon at St Mary of Mt Carmel Parish Church of St. Joseph’s, 226 French St Hammonton N.J., where a visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until noon. A Life Celebration will follow the burial, where friends are encouraged to share their stories about Gene. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to The Shirley Mae Foundation PO Box 3265 Margate NJ 08402.
Arrangements made by the Carnesale Funeral Home, Hammonton. (www.carnesalefuneralhome.com)