Livonia’s Eugene “Father” Huff dies at 95:
One of the most beloved members of the Livonia community passed away on April 20th at the Roanoke (Va.) United Methodist Home. Eugene R. Huff and his wife Monica had only been living at this assisted-living facility in Virginia for only a few weeks before his death.
Huff, affectionately called “Father” by just about everyone who knew him, was born in Richmond Center, NY, on January 9, 1914. He was involved in education throughout his long life. He graduated from what is now SUNY Geneseo in June 1935, majoring in grammar. Five years later he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In addition to attending Geneseo State Teachers College, Huff studied at or received degrees from Albany and Buffalo State Teachers Colleges and Cornell University. Gene’s first teaching assignment was at Rural #7 School in Honeoye (1935-1939). He then taught at Victor Central until he was hired as an agricultural teacher at Livonia Central School in 1941. He remained a major presence at Livonia schools until retiring in 1970.
Gene Huff was very proud to having been a member of the Livonia Rotary Club for 61 years. He once served as club president (1956-1957) and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Huff was honored in 1982 as “Rotarian of the Year” at the “Rotary Quad Cities Dinner” (an annual event attended by members of the Livonia, Geneseo, Avon and Caledonia-Mumford Rotary Clubs).
Always active in sports, Huff coached Junior Varsity basketball for five years and track/cross country for 19 years; he was also a soccer coach. Because of his long-term dedication to Livonia Central School sports, the track at the school’s Saunder’s Field was named “The Huff Track” at a special ceremony in 2008.
His community involvement went well beyond Livonia schools and his Rotary club. He was a Boy Scout scoutmaster, a Sunday school teacher at his church, a member of the local Grange, and a Livonia Village Board member for more than a dozen years. Despite all this, he found all the time he needed to have one of the best gardens in town.
Gene Huff is survived by his wife of 70 years, Monica; son David and daughter-in-law June Huff of Seneca, SC; son Donald and daughter-in-law Peg Huff; daughter Carol and son-in-law Mike Stanley; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. For the last 20+ years of his life, Gene and Monica Huff split their time between homes in Livonia and Barefoot Bay, Florida.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 8 at the Livonia United Methodist Church, 21 Summers Street, Livonia. A private family burial service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, Honeoye. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to the Eugene “Father” Huff Scholarship Fund, c/o Livonia Rotary Club, P.O. Box 307, Livonia, NY 14487. To send condolences or for more information, please visit www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com.