Eugene (Gene) Ollan Reynolds, a resident at the Maryland Masonic Homes in Cockeysville, passed away quietly from natural causes on January 17, 2024. He was 91.

Born in Sykesville, MD on August 18, 1932, he was a direct descendant of the original Cockey family. He attended The McDonogh School on a full boarding scholarship when it was still an all-male, military academy. There he made lifelong friends who still meet monthly as part of the McDonogh Lunch Bunch Class of 1950.

Gene graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. After fulfilling his service with the United States Army, he joined FMC Corporation in South Baltimore, where he met his wife, Loretta, of 60 years. He served in various interesting capacities as a chemical engineer until his retirement 45 years later.

During the first human walk on the moon in July 1969, Gene was on long-term assignment in Houston across from NASA Mission Control. He was working with a team to produce the rocket fuel used in the space launch.

In the late '90's, Gene worked with multiple government agencies and the Armed Services to train on foreign chemical and biological weapons. His work was featured in an article in The Baltimore Sun at the time.

As a member of the Baltimore Mayor's Hazardous Materials Advisory Council, he was known as HAZMAT-10 and was a special advisor for Baltimore Metro area fire, police and the MD Department of the Environment. Gene's perpetually calm, soft-spoken and unflappable demeanor made him an in-demand resource. He carried turnout gear in his car at all times and responded to about 30 hazardous material accidents a year. One notable call was the Howard Street Tunnel fire of 2001 where 60 CSX freight cars derailed. Gene served as President of SBIMAP (South Baltimore Industrial Mutual Aid Plan) for several years.

As a lifetime member of the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company, Gene was proud to volunteer as a HAZMAT responder and advisor and made many wonderful friends through the years.

In his younger years, Gene volunteered as an announcer at WBJC FM radio in Baltimore where he enjoyed playing his favorite classical music on air. His interest in spelunking (caving) led to his honorary life membership in the Baltimore Grotto of the National Speleological Society where he produced their monthly newsletter on an old-time printing machine in his home. He was a member of MENSA, as well.

Gene and Loretta enjoyed traveling extensively and dancing with the Vagabonds Square Dancing Club for many years.

Preceded in death by his father Ollan H. Reynolds, mother Gertrude M. Cockey Reynolds, both of Sykesville, MD, brother Gerald (Gerry) Reynolds of Andover, MA. Gene is survived by his wife, Loretta Pinos Reynolds, daughter Lisa Reynolds Allen (husband Mark Allen), son Stephen G. Reynolds (wife Melissa Petak Reynolds) and grandchildren Connor Allen, Flynn Allen, Amelia Reynolds, Violet Reynolds, and Nathan Reynolds. He is also survived by his three sisters Lois Reynolds, Patricia Pickett, Judith Ostovitz, sister-in-law Arden Reynolds and many nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.