Eugene John Meyer

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Eugene lived a long and creative life marked by faith, hard work, and a deep love of learning and teaching.

Eugene John Meyer died on October 20, 2026, in Golden, Colorado. He was born on November 9, 1926, in The Bronx, New York.

Eugene lived a long and creative life marked by faith, hard work, and a deep love of learning and teaching. Eugene lost both parents at the age of eight. He spent his childhood in St. John's orphanage until the age of 17 when he was released to the custody of his sister Geraldine Meyer-Dowling. Despite such traumatic loss, Eugene was unstoppable at every point of his life.

At age 18, Eugene was drafted into the US Army Air Corps. He served in the European Theater during WWII from 1944-46. He specialized in working with sheet metal to repair aircraft damaged during combat missions. At the end of the war, Eugene was sent to Germany to oversee German POWs as they were processed for release or not. He did his best to communicate instructions to the inmates by speaking German. This ended when one POW good naturedly requested that he speak English since his German hurt their ears.

When he returned to NY, he earned a Master’s Degree from St. Johns University and went on to serve as an elementary public school teacher for more than 40 years. He was remembered as a great teacher, someone who gave his time and knowledge generously and who helped others learn not only in the classroom, but in everyday life as well. He married Florence Koorbusch in 1951 and was eager to start a family. He was a thoroughly modern man for the times, picking up his share of household chores and making a special dinner every week. Wearing a chef's hat, Dad called it Saturday Night at the Restaurant complete with fine china, cloth napkins, and chocolate covered after dinner mints.

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He was remembered as a great teacher, someone who gave his time and knowledge generously and who helped others learn not only in the classroom, but in everyday life as well.

He was gregarious and devout in his Catholic faith, and made friends wherever he went. He was a self-taught, do-it-yourself person who accomplished whatever was needed. He built several homes throughout his life learning every aspect of the process and doing it all himself. He did the plumbing, the electrical, made cabinets and furniture. He devoted time to teaching his children and many others those same skills. The family worked together to build a house in Cold Spring Harbor, NY that was featured in a magazine article. Eugene was an artist in every sense, working in drawing, painting, ceramics, metal sculpture, and printmaking through wood cuts, silk screens, and etchings. He spent much of his free time in the art studio he built, always creating with his hands and mind.

His family carries great memories of his joyful spirit. One cherished memory is of Eugene dancing to loud music (Bob Dylan, Joan Baez) he had taped in the 1960s, out on the screened-in porch of the house he built in New Hampshire, where the family spent their summers. Another funny family story recalls the day his wife tore off the tattered pants he wore nearly all summer because he refused to throw anything away. He laughed so hard that he got hiccups. Then there was the "Holy" sweater (full of holes) that he loved to wear and certainly wore out right up until the end.

For those of you who remember his jokes, you know that he would hold onto your arm so you couldn't go anywhere. The jokes were usually pretty corny but we always had a laugh in the end because of the way he told them. These moments reflect the humor, energy, and warmth that stayed with him throughout his life.

Eugene John Meyer succumbed to failing health on October 20, 2026, in Golden, Colorado, approximately three weeks prior to his centennial birthday. He is survived by his wife, Lynne Harkrader Meyer who he married in 1995; his children, Stephen Meyer, Jeanine Meyer Rodriguez, and Christopher Meyer; his grandchildren, Firenze Bianca Rodriguez and Celeste Alexis Meyer; his great-grandchildren, Carlos Ricardo Henson-Rodriguez and Jose León Francisco Henson-Rodriguez; and his brother, Gerald Thomas Meyer. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence Koorbusch Meyer and son, Patrick Eugene Meyer.

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These moments reflect the humor, energy, and warmth that stayed with him throughout his life.

He will be remembered with love for his faith, his creativity, his generosity, and the many things he built with his hands and his heart. His life touched family, friends, students, and all who knew him.