Eugene Arnold Christmann May 22, 1933-October 30, 2020 A man of "that" generation. DixieLand Jazz, Ragtime, and Swing were always the only music. A night of Jazz at Nick's in Greenwich Village in the late 40's, Summer nights in the 70's at Broido Park in Willingboro, NJ to listen to Swing, an evening at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. But it was in Tulsa, OK in the 2010's that he came full circle, with easy access to the music and the arts that he loved, regaling all with stories of different bands he went to see, and shared memories of musicians from long ago. Full of contradiction, Gene was a man of modest means who wore a tuxedo with aplomb. A tailored suit and striped tie covered the shirt he ironed himself each morning. He dined on the finest - not a meal out, but prepared by himself over hours. Eugene Arnold Christmann died of COVID-19 at the age of 87 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK. Thankfully, he had a daughter in full PPE by his side and was virtually surrounded on video by his two other children. A lifelong practicing Episcopalian, he reminded all to Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself. He proudly remembered being the lay reader for Christmas Masses in the early 1960's in Port Washington, NY. He was also sure in his belief that the Elizabethian era Rite I was the better Mass, making 8:00 AM Sunday his time when available. Traveling often back to the East Coast, dancing at the Elks, attending black tie events, and working his third census in 2020, he lived an incredibly active late life, perhaps going backward in age, until the virus curtailed everyone's activities. The virus, however, never stopped him from finishing the New York Times crossword most Sundays. Stories of people throughout his life were rich in detail, with not just names, but parent's names, places, and meals. Not only did he know you, everyone in his wide circle knew you by story too. Forever a New Yorker, and more generally an East Coast guy at heart, he was born and raised in Queens, proudly attending Brooklyn Tech and then Queens College. He is a graduate of Adelphi University on Long Island. He raised his family in Willingboro, NJ, moved to Hackettstown, NJ to finish his career at Newton Memorial Hospital, the capstone of 40 years of hospital administration in housekeeping and maintenance. He retired and moved to Tulsa, OK in 2003. Gene's life before Tulsa was shared with the love of his life and partner in the crime of living life to the fullest, his wife of 46 years, Alice Vollaro Christmann, who predeceased him in 2002. He was also predeceased by his sister and best friend Gail Bagonis, his mother Dorothy, and his father Emile. Gene was the always-proud father of three children, Andrew Christmann (Terri) of Mendham, NJ, Emily Forbes (Chuck) of Tulsa, OK, and Abigail Christmann (Clairanne) of Allamuchy, NJ. He regaled all with stories of his four grandchildren, Olivia Christmann of Boston and Charles "Chris", Griffin, and Ally Forbes of Tulsa. He shared a special bond with his sister, Jane Weber of Gaithersburg, MD. He was the most avid family sport cheerleader for both generations, rarely missing an event, sometimes traveling hundreds and even thousands of miles, even in his late 80's. He was a US Army Reserve veteran, serving two active duty tours in the Field Artillery during the Berlin and Cuban crises. He most recently worked to serve today's veterans, working with and for a time chairing the Tulsa Elks Veterans committee. A Funeral Mass will be scheduled for early December and held at his parish, St. Dunstan's of Tulsa, with in-person attendance for immediate family and live stream for all who wish to celebrate his life. His interment and graveside service will be in the spring (COVID-allowing) in Hackettstown, NJ where he will rest beside his wife Alice. Donations can be made to the Tulsa Elks Veterans Services, 5335 S. Harvard Ave, Tulsa OK 74135 LEGACY TOUCH PIN CODE #DBQYCW2T