Eugene T. Swensen

Eugene (Gene) Thomas Swensen, 78, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. He was born Feb. 13, 1936 in Minneapolis, Minn.

A USAF veteran and well-regarded engineer, Gene worked with Lockheed, Palomar Scientific, Honeywell, UltraSensors Inc., Abbott Labs and Boeing. He was awarded U.S. Patents for Spin Motor Rate Detection Apparatus; Ultrasonic Standing Wave Sensor; Infra-Red Optical Source Sensor; and Non-Linear Optical Potentiometer.

In addition, he received “Product of the Year Award” for CYCLOPS, “Silver Quill” award from Motorola and “Quality Achievement” Award from Boeing.

Gene, a self-described humanist, will be remembered for his warm and engaging personality, great sense of humor (he always enjoyed a good pun) and uncanny ability to draw even the biggest of introverts into meaningful conversation.

He is survived by his loving partner in life and cribbage, Sandy Goodell; children, Denise and Karla; grandchildren, Reed and Nash; sisters, Lois Wollum and Roberta Sigg; brothers, Ken and Howard Swensen; and his loving extended family, Colleen, George, McKenna, and Caroline Knecht, and Christy, Chris, Tyler and Brandon Goodell.

The services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. at Messinger Mortuaries, located on 12065 N Saguaro Blvd., Fountains Hills. In lieu of flowers, Gene’s family requests that contributions be made in memory of Eugene Swensen to Hospice of the Valley, Fund Development, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.