Eugene Breunig
Eugene Leonard Breunig, 88, died May 14, 2025 with the most toys.
He was also known as “Gene,” “Gino,” “Pal, “Lenny,” “Sweetie,” “Pa,” and “Opa.” He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of nearly 65 years, Anita, their three sons, Leonard, of Middletown, N.Y., John, of Newtown, Conn., and David, of Rye, N.Y., daughters-in-law Ruth and Lisa, grandson Liam, brother Robert, of Terrell, Texas, and sister Dorothy of Niskayuna, N.Y.
He was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on March 31, 1937, to Eugene Breunig and Rosabelle (McDaid) Breunig and lived in the city for most of his life, aside from five years in Mount Vernon, N.Y., after his marriage on Aug. 6, 1960. After graduating from Blessed Sacrament High School in 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on Jan. 30, 1956. He served for three years, completing basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey before tours of duty in Fort Belvoir, Va., Guam and at Fort Lewis in Washington state.
In the Army he worked in the motor pool, maintaining automobiles, jeeps and heavy equipment trucks that were being used to build an airport landing strip on Guam. After discharge, he secured a position at H.A. Stein Ford in Mount Vernon, and later transitioned to Volkswagen dealerships throughout Westchester County.
The love of Gene’s life was Anita Martha Haalck. They met at age 16 through their fathers, who sang together in German singing clubs. Gene worked with Anita’s father, Harold, at Lambert’s Service Station in Pelham, N.Y.
Since childhood, he collected model trains and toy cars (favoring Dinky Toys), and liked to spend weekends at car shows throughout the region. A favorite pastime was traveling to Hershey, Penn., each October for an antique car show and flea market. Even his love of photography tended to reliably focus on vintage autos (the first photo he took of his future bride also featured a station wagon). He shared his secret language of cars with his grandson Liam.
His music of choice tilted toward jazz and big band, particularly Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller. Nothing made him laugh more than a Charlie Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy film. He cherished having written letters to Stan Laurel and receiving responses.
He will be missed for his graciousness, gentle humor, respect for others, and being the person family members, friends and neighbors called on in an emergency. God gave him the tools and he put them to use. Gene was a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Family in New Rochelle for 60 years.
Gene was a diehard fan of the New York Mets, who play near the site of the New York World’s Fairs of which he had a lifelong fascination. He cursed his ability to cause the Mets to lose every time he turned on the radio or TV to check the score. His favorite meal on any restaurant menu was a cup of soup and half a sandwich. His favorite snack was “Schlüker with Ma” at bedtime, typically Nestle chocolate milk with a sweet treat.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society (LLS.org).