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Memorial mass followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery to be held February 21.
Major General Eugene Carmen Renzi, United States Army (Retired) 74, died on Feb. 9, 2008, at home surrounded by his beloved family.
Major General Renzi (Gene) was a man of great accomplishments in his careers in both the military and as President of Mantech International Corporation Defense Systems Group. To Gene, his five children, their spouses, and 23 grand children were by far his greatest achievement and joy.
General Renzi was born and raised in East Boston and in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was an outstanding athlete. He holds records in football, track and field, and is an inductee in the Watertown High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Northeastern University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1957, and a Master of Science degree in Education in 1966. He was captain of the undefeated Northeastern University Huskies football team in 1956 and 1957 and was inducted into the Northeastern Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1957 the captain of the football team, Gene Renzi, and the captain of the Northeastern cheerleader squad, Faye Marie Barker, married. Gene was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals and played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1970 and the National War College in 1979.
He served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a captain in 1970 and a major in 1972, where he received multiple honors including the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
General Renzi’s tours included duty as a Communications Staff Officer, Military Assistance Command, Republic of Vietnam; Staff Officer, Army Strategy and Tactics Analysis Group, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Washington D.C.; Senior Management Analyst and Team Chief, Organization Management Branch, Office of the Chief of Staff, Washington D.C.; Commander 40th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Chief, Signal Corps Branch, Officer Personnel Center, Alexandria Virginia, and Special Assistant to the Project Manager, USA Communication Systems Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
In 1980 General Renzi became Commander of the Operations Command, Washington, D.C. He was then assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, USA Communication Command, Fort Huachuca, in 1982.
In 1984 General Renzi became Chief, Contingency Support Division, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington D.C. He was promoted to Brigadier General and became Director, Defense Communications Systems, Washington, D.C. in 1986.
In 1987 General Renzi became the Commanding General, 7th Signal Command at Fort Ritchie, Maryland. He was promoted to Major General in 1988 and became the Director for Command and Control and Communication Systems, United States Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Major General Renzi retired from the United States Army in 1990.
After his retirement General Renzi became the Vice President of Resource Development at the United Way of America in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1991 he became the Vice President of Programs for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA).
General Renzi became the Senior Executive Vice President for Mantech International in 1993. In 1996 he became the President of Mantech Telecommunications and Information Systems Corporation. In 2004 he became the Group President of Mantech Defense Systems Group. At Mantech International he has managed corporate business development endeavors relating to Defense Communications activities which span six continents and support the United States military efforts around the world. While at Mantech General Renzi served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFCEA from 2003 to 2006. In addition he served as the Chairman of the Board for the United States-Panama Business Association from 1999 to 2008. He also held the position of Commissioner of Youth Football for the State of Virginia.
His distinguished career accomplishments do not begin to reflect the true family man that Gene Renzi was. He was larger than life. A loving, generous, charismatic, man with great humility, he lived his life as an inspiration to everyone who knew him. His family and the countless people whose lives he touched will forever miss him and his beautiful smile. We have all lost a true American hero.
His wife Faye Marie Renzi predeceased Gene in 1986. He is survived by five children, U.S. Congressman Richard G. Renzi and his wife Roberta of Arizona; Robert L. Renzi and his wife Tina of Flushing, New York; Ronald P. Renzi and his wife Darci of Leesburg, Virginia; Regina M. James and her husband Roger of Ashburn, Virginia; and Ralph D. Renzi and his wife Vanessa of Springfield, Virginia, two brothers, Phillip Renzi of Florida and Richard Renzi of Pennsylvania, and his devoted friend Stephanie Gaskill. Renzi is also survived by grand children: Ronald, Robert, Richard, Rochelle, Regina, Rachel, Robert J., Ryan, Ross, Danielle, Anthony, Rory, Brock, Richard C., Phillip, Rianna, Royce, Reginamarie, Riley, Ralphy, Carmen, Giavanna, and Antonia.
Visiting hours will be at Demaine Funeral Home on Backlick Road , Springfield , Virginia, Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Viewing 4-7 p.m. A special tribute 7 to 7:45 p.m., Holy Rosary 7:45 to 8 p.m.
A Memorial Mass at Saint Michael Catholic Church, Annandale, Virginia, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, February 21, 2008.
Burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, 11 a.m. February 21, 2008.
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