Gene Whitney
March 21, 1949 – December 23, 2021
Gene Whitney, of Washington, DC and North Beach, MD, passed away on Dec 23, 2021, in Prince Frederick, MD at the age of 72. Gene was born in Chelan, Washington, the youngest of 7 children, to Verne and Blanche Johnson Whitney of Manson, Washington. He grew up in Manson, WA, and had fond memories of roaming the hills and lakes near his home as a boy and as a young man. As a college student, he worked summers for the Forest Service fighting fires, and grooming trails. He never tired of visiting the unique landscape of the Lake Chelan region, returning frequently in recent years.
Gene graduated from Manson High School in 1967, and went on to Western Washington University, where he received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology. He continued his studies at the University of Illinois, where he received a Ph.D in Geology. After a postdoctoral appointment at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, he moved to Colorado where he worked at the U.S. Geological Survey, in Lakewood, initially as a researcher and later as Chief Scientist of the Energy Resources Team. During that time, he worked on international energy issues with governments of China, Russia, Pakistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, and Japan. His last assignment for the USGS was in Washington DC, where he served as Assistant Director for Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. After leaving the USGS, he worked at the Congressional Research Service, serving as Energy Research Manager, overseeing energy studies conducted at the request of members of Congress. In retirement, he served as Chair of the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources at the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Gene spent his retirement focused mainly on photography and travel to Europe, Asia, South America, and Antarctica, but also took great pleasure in just sitting in his favorite chair looking out at the Chesapeake Bay, in North Beach, MD.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Ruth Overton and Doris Bennett. He is survived by his wife Suzanne Dallas Whitney, his former wife Sue Holliday Whitney, siblings Robert Whitney, Lynda Dietrich (Karl), Karen McMasters, and Louise Brosi (Peter), daughter Ann Whitney Price, sons Mark Whitney (Kristin) and Joseph Whitney (Jing), grandchildren Jadin Cross, Tristan Cross, Makenna Cross, Ethan Price, Olivia Whitney, Harper Whitney, and Jay Whitney, step-daughters Diana Molavi (Rameen) and Sylvia Augusteijn (Michael), step-grandchildren Claire and Annelise Molavi, and Timothy and Adam Augusteijn, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will remember him in private memorial gatherings when travel is feasible.
Until his death, Gene retained his fascination with the natural world and was always eager to plan the next travel adventure. But his greatest satisfaction was keeping up with and planning visits to his beloved family in Colorado, Washington, and Minnesota.
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I was very surprised and shocked when I heard uncle Gene had passed.
He was a very special man in a very calm and thoughtful way. I was always amazed at his calmness.
He will be missed by all that knew him.
I am so sorry for your loss Suzanne. Gene will be missed by many.