Eugene Alexander Darrow

Longtime Littleton resident Eugene A. Darrow passed away on April 10, 2016, at the age of 94.  

He was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Casimer and Genevieve Dabrowski.  His beloved wife, Penny, who predeceased him, wrote a description of his life.  Here are some excerpts. “Can you devise a square bullet which will reach a velocity of 1050 feet per second and will never leave the barrel?”  The question came from no less than the Atomic Energy Commission in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to Captain Eugene A. Darrow on the Staff and Faculty of the Artillery School in Lawton, Oklahoma – a place he would return to many times during his Army career.  After about a two-minute reflection he replied, “Yes” and quickly found himself in New Mexico.  . .  Operation Greenhouse, he learned, was to . . . determine the efficiency of the atomic bomb and prove its feasibility. . . 

Gene’s military career began as a cadet at the United States Military Academy , and on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), he (and Johnny Eisenhower) paraded before the newsreel cameras while General Dwight Eisenhower attended the ceremonies.  . .. The next day, Gene married his high school sweetheart and over the years they were to become parents of five children.  Six months after graduation he was sent overseas.  . .  but was wounded on the 15th of March, 1945 and sent home.  He recovered. . ., to serve in limited duty assignments. One such assignment was the two-year tour of duty on the island of . . . Taiwan, as a member of the Military Advisory Assistance Group to General Chiang Kai-shek.  . .  He set up an island-wide communications system using salvaged gear, and installed a movie theater atop the local hostel. 

Upon return to the States he was sent to Washington, D.C., where he became Action Officer for the Army General Staff and served as the liason between the Atomic Energy Commission, the Army, and Congress. ..and became a civilian.  He applied to Martin Company and . . . was one of a handful of engineers who went to Denver to establish the Martin facility there.  Gene retired from Martin Marietta in January 1, 1984. Gene is survived by five children:  Alexandra Burns of Everett, WA, Frederick of Dumont CO, Stasia of Kent, WA., Joe of Boulder, CO, and Richard, of Canon City, CO.  He is also survived by his brother Casimer, Jr., two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

A viewing with be held on Wednesday, April 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Drinkwine Mortuary in Littleton.  Burial will take place at on Thursday, April 14, at 11:15 am, at Fort Logan.

 Service Information