Oscar Eugene “Gene” Trivits, 80, died on September 29, 2012 at Millcroft.

Born in Wilmington, DE, his principal life-long residence was Newark, DE. He graduated from Newark High School in 1949. He attended the University of Delaware, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1953 and a Masters of Business Administration in 1963. Other notable educational experiences included his 1973 graduation from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS; his completion in 1980 of the Senior Executive Program at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA; and his 1986 graduation from the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA..

He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He served on the Board of Directors of the Newark Senior Center and was instrumental in the building campaign fund raising for the new center that was opened in 1996. His professional background included concurrent careers in the U.S. Civil Service and the Army National Guard. As a civil servant he served in various programs and staff assignments in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia. He was the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare representative for the massive rebuilding effort in Wilkes Barre, PA after the devastating floods of Hurricane Agnes in 1972. This included major repair or replacement of hospitals and schools in the affected area and the re-establishment of the area’s health service delivery system for the thousands of victims of the floods. He was the Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts for the care and resettlement of thousands of Cuban refugees at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA during the Muriel Boat Lift in 1980. His service at that time earned him the highest award presented by the U.S. Public Health Service. His final position at DHHS was Deputy Regional Health Administrator in the Philadelphia Regional Office. He retired from the U.S Public Health Service in February 1986.

His military service of more than 31 years involved a variety of assignments in the Delaware and Kentucky Army National Guard. His command and staff experience included Battery, Company, Battalion and Brigade level units, and culminated in his assignment as Delaware’s Assistant-Adjutant General, Army in the dual capacity as overall commander of the Delaware Army National Guard and commander of Delaware’s State Area Command. He was originally commissioned as a second lieutenant, artillery, and rose through the various officer ranks. He was promoted and received federal recognition as a Brigadier General on February 23, 1985. Upon his retirement in June 1989, he was promoted to the grade of Major General.

He was a devoted aviation enthusiast and enjoyed. He was a long time member of the Newark Country Club, where he served on multiple golf committees and was deeply involved in renovation and building programs. He was a Director of the club, chaired several committees of the Board, and served both as President and Vice-President of the Board of Directors.

He is survived by his wife, the former Jean N. Moore of Newark, and two daughters, Connie J. of Newark, and Terry L. Morrow of Red Bank, NJ.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend funeral services at R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main St., Newark, DE 19711 on Thursday October 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation at the funeral home Wednesday October 3 from 6 – 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice.