Eugene Munson “Gene” Brisach passed away on September 11, 2022 at the Retreat at Osprey Village in Fernandina Beach, FL with his wife by his side. He wrote the following in 2012: Eugene Munson Brisach was born March 15, 1939 at Fort Sill, OK, where his dad, Raymond Charles Brisach (Class of 1930), was attending what was then the Artillery Officer Career Course. His older sister, Beverly, who predeceased him, was born in 1935, and a younger sister, Athleen, was born in 1946. His mother, Athleen Munson Brisach, had two brothers, Frederick Munson, Class of 1926, and Delbert Munson, Class of 1940.
Gene’s childhood was spent moving from place to place when his dad was reassigned. What he liked most was 1949-50 in the Panama Canal Zone, but the family had to return to the U.S. early when he, his younger sister and his mother were stricken with polio. Gene and his sister were relatively unaffected, but his mother was severely paralyzed. After her treatment in Baltimore, MD, the family moved to Alexandria, VA, where Gene graduated from George Washington High School in 1956, about the time his mother succumbed to the effects of her illness. He received a competitive appointment to USMA, was assigned to Company B-2 and graduated on June 8, 1960, ranking 36th academically in a class of 549. Later that year, while attending the Engineer Officer Basic Course, a tactical officer, who was unable to pronounce even the simplest of names, caused Gene to be forever saddled with the nickname “Berserk.”
Twenty-eight-and-a-half years of active-duty Army service as a combat engineer and personnel management specialist found him all over the world: seven years in Germany, three years in Southeast Asia and 13 years in and around the Pentagon. In 1963, at the University of Illinois, he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He met and married Margaret (Peggy Almond) in 1969. He particularly enjoyed his three European tours, becoming an accomplished skier and fitness advocate, finally being promoted to colonel in 1981. In 1984, he and two of his golf buddies from Heidelberg, Germany spent a week in Scotland. He considered that one of the highlights of his life. At the Old Course at St. Andrews, they played on a beautiful day the week after the British Open had been held there. The bleachers and TV towers were still there, along with many tourists. Gene hit his second shot on the par-4 18th hole onto the green and received polite applause as he walked to the green. He was pumped but missed the birdie putt!
He retired from the Army in 1988 and became a housewife and soccer “mom” while his kids were still in school in Virginia, but, shortly after, his marriage to Peggy frayed for some time, then fell apart, resulting in a divorce in 1991. The two-year divorce process depressed him significantly, but at the 30th class reunion (for which he was treasurer) he was buoyed and inspired by the support of his classmates from Company B-2. That same year, B-2 classmate and dear friend Ed Handler caused Gene to be introduced to Susanne Wilson “Susie” Howson, a Wellesley graduate living in Florida. They became engaged in 1992 and married in 1995. When Gene left Virginia to move to Florida, he and Susie were feted at a party held by the DC contingent of the Class of 1960. She immediately fell in love with the group and vice versa, often saying to Gene that she should have been an Army wife from the very beginning. What a tribute to the Class of ’60! Gene and Susie took up golf with a vengeance since they lived on a golf and tennis resort (Amelia Island Plantation), but, try as he might, he was never able to score below 81, and the day after reaching that peak performance he had his only hole-in-one (1993).
In 1992, he became treasurer and a founding board member of Nassau County, Florida, Habitat for Humanity. At one point, Nassau Habitat had completed 31 homes, all but two of which were still occupied by the original homeowners, in large part due to Gene’s efforts to shepherd those homeowners into a state of financial independence and dependability.
He was the founding treasurer of ARIAS (Amelia Residents in Action for the Symphony) and served on that board for 20 years.
He particularly loved the twice-yearly gatherings of his West Point classmates at various golf events, several of which he and Susie hosted. He loved his family, his classmates, small dogs, classical music, and frequent golf with Jacksonville, FL classmates Baker, Willson, and McManus. He also loved cheap cigars, expensive gin, plants with flowers and the five grapefruit trees he grew from seeds in 1986 and moved to Florida in 1991. Finally, he loved the Jacksonville Jaguars. He tried to live his life with major emphasis on honesty, integrity, thrift, and dependability. There are a few things he might have done differently, but Susie’s not one of them.
He leaves behind his dear wife, Susanne; four daughters: Jennifer (Scott) Sargent, Amy (Brett) Scholz, Amanda (JB) Brooks and Kristin Cox; and four stepsons: Peter (Kristen) Howson, Brian (Tina) Howson, Keith (Alexandra) Howson and Stephen Howson. He also leaves 16 grandchildren and step grands: Allyssa, Reese and Brynn Sargent; Gracyn, Emercin, and Paisley Scholz; Ledger, Colton and Laken Brooks; Jalyn Gray, Sabine Howson, Sophia, Jack and Alena Howson; and Andrew and Meghan Howson; as well as his sister, Athleen Novak. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Beverly.