Eugene "Gene" Reuben Agrons, age 92, died peacefully on April 20, 2016 at the Veterans  Memorial Home in Vineland, NJ.  Gene was born December 18, 1923.  On the basis of his frequent reminiscences, his childhood in Atlantic City was deeply meaningful.  In 1941, he graduated from Atlantic City High School.

Gene began his studies at Rutgers College in New Brunswick, NJ, before enlisting in the U.S. Army in September 1943.  He served in the Medical Corps in the Pacific Theater during World War II.  Upon his return, and with the financial assistance of his beloved G.I. Bill, he completed a B.S. in Biology at Rutgers in 1949 and subsequently earned a teaching certificate from Montclair State.

Gene moved to Vineland in 1951, where his father had started a poultry business.  After a brief stint at Bridgeton High, Gene was a Biology teacher at Vineland Senior High School until his retirement in 1983.   In a teaching career that spanned more than 30 years, he inspired innumerable students.  Even well into retirement, former pupils would offer unsolicited praise of his dedication, integrity, fairness, and passion for learning.  His lifelong hobbies included playing the clarinet, jazz and big band music, walking, reading, and film noir.

He is survived by his wife Rita (Rubin) Agrons of Vineland, NJ; sons Geoffrey Ansel Agrons (Katherine Cater) of Philadelphia and Joshua Blake Agronsky (Rebecca Agronsky) of Vineland; grandson Jacob Agronsky of Vineland, and sisters Charlotte Horwitz of Springfield, PA, March Ann Agrons of NYC, and Sandy Agronsky of Phoenixville, PA.

Services will be private.

Donations in Gene's memory may be made to

New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Home, Vineland

524 Northwest Boulevard

Vineland, NJ 08360-2895

856-405-4200

http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/vinelandmh/forms/Memorial_Donation_Form_Vineland_03-12-15_v2.pdf

Please visit www.wbfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.

Arrangements are in the care of Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, Vineland.