Biography

Hello. My name is Eugene, (Gene), Basilici, although most of my friends call me Geno. I was born in Dedham, Mass. in 1935. For as far back as I can remember, I was restless, wanting to see what lay beyond New England, reading voraciously about other lands, other peoples. In the early ‘50s, I enlisted in the army and volunteered for Korea, completing two years of college and an Associates degree before my discharge.

With my beautiful wife, Tarese, we moved to Florida in 1961 and still reside there. We had six children, (lost my youngest son, some years ago), ten grandchildren and, so far, three great-grandchildren and, except for that singular tragedy, have been greatly blest. Over the years, my business in sales management supplied our needs, prepared for eventual retirement and allowed many on-going luxuries, such as extensive travels, out-of-country golfing trips and multiple, mini-vacations each year.

If there was anything nagging at the edges of my consciousness, it was that we had so much to be thankful for, so much more than our parents and I wasn’t at all sure I was showing sufficient gratitude – neither to my God nor to my immigrant forebears, who’d made certain that I was born in this great and free country. Well, in those years, we were pretty steady church-goers and we increased our “time and treasure” contributions and took on more responsibilities. But what to do about the stubborn, hard-working forebears who’d braved a heaving ocean and the vagaries of a strange land, just so their children and grandchildren might have a chance for a better life? How could I honor them? Well, I thought, the least I could do, would be to find ways to preserve their memory – make sure they’re not forgotten.

I videoed a family history from old snapshots and home movies and sent copies to my children. I’ve had two novels published that chronicle the tumultuous life of my paternal grandfather, the novels, “Genio” and “Legacy of a Hero” and I’m putting together this website.

Now, I’m sure these projects could have been done better in the hands of a more talented person, but as I sit in my office at home, in the seventieth year of my life, basking in the love of a wonderful family, in good health and still in control of my faculties, I’m real pleased that I finally did something. I hope my great-grand kids like it.

If you would like to buy one or all three of my books, this is the best place to do it: Genio , Legacy of A Hero, Barinelli's War.