Eugene Joseph Driscoll

LTC ( R ) Eugene Joseph Driscoll passed away Friday evening, March 12th, at the age of 78 years old. After years battling cardiac issues, with a determination to mend and heal, even besting a bout of COVID-19, Mr. Driscoll sadly succumbed to his body’s weariness and fatigue. But through all of this and until the end, his family, friends, and anyone that knew him would agree that Gene was a man with a firm handshake, a strong backhand on the racquetball court, and who possessed the most beautiful Irish tenor voice. Born in Brooklyn, NY, to parents Frank and Ruth Driscoll, Eugene and his younger brother, Robert, grew up in Newark, NJ, attending Seton Hall Preparatory school before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point. While there, along with maintaining a rigorous academic and physical training schedule, Gene was also a member of the prestigious West Point Glee Club. He was very proud of this and enjoyed the many concerts, parades and tv appearances, such as on the Ed Sullivan show. His love of singing continued through his life and after retirement, while living in the DC area, he joined the West Point Alumni Glee Club and embraced their motto “no fun without music, no music without fun”. Upon graduation from West Point, class of 1966, then Lt. Driscoll attended Ranger and Airborne schools, and then went on to serve in Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil and many additional US posts. To prepare for his tour in Brazil, Gene and his wife attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey CA. for 6 months to learn Portuguese. It was a skill both he and Carol kept up long after returning states-side and always enjoyed using. During his years of service Gene continued to develop professionally and attended North Carolina State University, earning his Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering. He further attended Central Michigan University earning a Masters of Arts degree. After 23 years of military service, Gene retired but continued to work for the Department of Defense as a contractor, based with his family in the northern Virginia area. He also helped with swim meets, soccer games and school plays, and taught his children racquetball, chess, and a love of both music and learning. When his oldest child, Erin, moved overseas to live internationally he and Carol also took up travelling to visit the family and enjoyed holidays in Hungary, France, England and Dubai to name a few. Gene’s memory and stories of love, laughter, and life will be shared by his wife, Carol Driscoll, his eldest child, Erin Elizabeth Haynes (Driscoll), his daughter-in-law, Rebecca C. Driscoll, his youngest son, John Edmund Driscoll, and his six grandchildren, Eamon, Emma, Hayden, Kynan, Teague and Wesley. Mr. and Mrs. Driscoll’s middle child and older son, Eugene Joseph Driscoll (Jr), sadly and unexpectedly passed away in 2017. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 29, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church, 12807 Valleywood Dr., Lake Ridge, VA 22192, reception to follow. An interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.

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Eugene Joseph Driscoll

March 12, 2021