MILAS, EUGENE (“GENE”), 79, of Tampa, Florida, passed away peacefully April 26, 2019. Gene was a native of Rochester, New York and a 53-year resident of Florida, most recently 36 years in Tampa. Following high school in Rochester, Gene was awarded a five-year cooperative work/study scholarship program at General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan (now Kettering University), where he received a Bachelors’ Degree in Industrial Engineering.
After several years with General Motors, Gene accepted an engineering position with Honeywell Aerospace in Clearwater, leading to a 20-year career in various engineering and management positions, including additional assignments in Tampa and Minneapolis. He was privileged to contribute to the success of multiple space and aviation programs, including the Space Shuttle Orbiter and inertial navigation systems for numerous missiles and commercial aircraft. In 1984, Gene was awarded an MBA degree from the University of Tampa.
In 1986, following his Honeywell career, Gene started an engineering consulting and software development company, which he headed until the current time. He traveled extensively in the US and consulted with numerous Fortune 500 businesses, as well as some overseas clients. Gene was an active participant in numerous organizations, including as an elder and Session member of First Presbyterian Church in Tampa, a long-time officer in his neighborhood civic association, and a multi-year volunteer at HL Moffitt Cancer Center.
He also volunteered at Tampa Museum of Art, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Florida Orchestra and other art-focused groups. He was a long-time volunteer in various homeless feeding initiatives at First Presbyterian. In past years, he served as local President and other officer positions with his professional organization (Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers) and was a member of several other professional engineering groups.
Gene is survived by his wife Juliana, daughters Stephany Madliger (Richard) of Kettering, OH, Cynthia, of Seminole, FL, stepsons Christopher Deeds (Kristina) and Brian Deeds (Ivelisse) of Tampa, and three granddaughters Ashley Turek (Madliger) of Louisville, KY and Aimee and Holly Madliger of Cincinnati, OH. He also has two great-grandchildren, Tristan and Zoey Turek. Interment will be in Columbus, OH, with a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the HL Moffitt Cancer Center, or to the First Presbyterian Church of Tampa. Visitation will be on Sunday, May 5, at 12:30pm with a service at 1:30pm, followed by a reception.
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