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Lt. Eugene "Gene" Kasparovitch
Facts and Events
About Eugene Kasparovitch/Magers
Eugene Keith "Gene" Magers, born Eugene Kasparovitch, was the son of Nicholas Kasparovitch (1884-1949) and Elama "Helen" Okeshoff (1892-1950), both immigrants from Russia, who had migrated to Hawaii prior to abt. 1913. Eugene attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1937 and was noted as being a star athlete on its football team. He became known as "Turkey" and later "Turk" to his friends in High School and College. His parents had divorced prior to 1940.
After high school, Eugene went to San Jose State College in San Jose, California, where he went on to star on both the Football team and was one of the starting pitchers on the San Jose State baseball team. In 1940 he is listed in the San Jose State University yearbook, "La Torre" on several pages including the football and baseball teams, and as a member of the "Hawaiian Club". On October 16, 1940, Eugene filled out his Draft Registration Card, listing him as a student at San Jose State College and living at 164 S. 7th St. in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. The contact he listed was his mother, then listed as "Mrs. Frank Magers", showing that his parents had divorced prior to that date. Eugene was listed as White, 6'2", 198 lbs, with light complexion, blue eyes and blonde hair.
In 1941, the following year, Gene was featured in an article in the Nippu Jiji in his hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii on December 3, 1941, listing him as coming to Hawaii with his San Jose State football teammates to play his "final games for San Jose right here in his old stomping grounds". They had arrived that day on the S.S. Lurline
Little did he know that just four days later, he and his teammates would witness the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. After the attack, seven of his teammates chose to stay in Hawaii and serve on the Honolulu Police Department. Six others went directly home of got off the team bus to go home, while twelve of the others came back to the mainland by another ship, the S.S. President Coolidge that arrived in San Francisco harbor on Christmas Day in 1941. Also onboard their ship, the S.S. President Coolidge were 125 injured Navy personnel from Hawaii.
Shortly thereafter, Eugene enlisted into the United States Army as a Private on 20 March 1942 in San Francisco. He was listed as completing 3 years of college, single without dependents, a resident of Hawaii and his civil occupation was listed as "actors and actresses". [United States. National Archives and Records Administration (ARC # 1263923). World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946] Eugene worked his way up to a 1st. Lieutenant prior to 4 February 1943, when a letter written by him was published in the "Spartan Daily", the student newspaper at San Jose State University. [shown in photos below]. Eugene served in World War II to the end of the war until his discharge on 29 March 1946. [U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010]
After the war, Eugene decided to take his step-father's surname, Magers, which he would use for the rest of his life. By 1948, Eugene Magers would become a Public School Physical Education teacher in Santa Cruz, California. [Santa Cruz City Directory, Santa Cruz, CA, 1948]
Prior to 1950, Eugene had married to Helen L. Monroe, a daughter of Frank W. Monrow (1890-1861) and Dorothy May Fahey (1891-1968). Eugene and Helen would go on to have two children together, a son and a daughter.
Eugene Magers passed away on 30 July 203 in Merced, California, and was buried in San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella, Merced County, California [Find-A-Grave], at age 85. His wife Helen would go on to live another five years, passing away on 27 November 2008.
Image Gallery
References
- United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).
Name: Eugene Kasparoortch
[Kasparovitch]
Age: 2
Birth Year: abt 1918
Birthplace: Hawaii
Home in 1920: Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory
Residence Date: 1920
Race: Octoroon
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Nick Kasparoortch
Father's Birthplace: Hawaii
Mother's Name: Elama Kasparoortch
Mother's Birthplace: Hawaii
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Nick Kasparoortch 36 Head
Elama Kasparoortch 26 Wife
Wich Kasparoortch 5 Son
Nagia Kasparoortch 7 Daughter
Tasia Kasparoortch 5 Daughter
Eugene Kasparoortch 2 Son
- United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).
Name: Eugene Kasparovitch
Birth Year: abt 1918
Gender: Male
Race: Oc (White)
Age in 1930: 12
Birthplace: Hawaii
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory, USA
Able to Read and Write: No
Father's Birthplace: Russia
Mother's Birthplace: Russia
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Nicholas Kasparovitch 43 Head
Nido Kasparovitch 17 Daughter
Taisha Kasparovitch 15 Daughter
Eugene Kasparovitch 12 Son
Leonide Kasparovitch 11 Son
- United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
- United States. 1950 U.S. Census Population Schedule: a report of the seventeenth decennial census of the United States. (Washington, District of Columbia, United States: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1953).
Name: Eugene Magers
Age: 32
Birth Date: abt 1918
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Place: Hawaii
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Residence Date: 1950
Home in 1950: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Street Name: Winkle St
House Number: 388
Dwelling Number: 418
Farm: No
Acres: No
Occupation: Physical Education Teacher
Industry: City School System
Occupation Category: Working
Hours Worked: 32
Worker Class: Government
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Eugene Magers 32 Head
Helen Magers 27 Wife
- Find A Grave.
Eugene Keith Magers
BIRTH: 13 Mar 1918
DEATH: 30 Jul 2003 (aged 85)
BURIAL
San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery
Santa Nella, Merced County, California, USA
Original surname: Kasparovitch
Inscription: US ARMY
Gravesite Details: WORLD WAR II
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72884778/eugene-keith-magers
- United States. Social Security Administration. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, 2015).
Name: Eugene Kasparovitch
[Eugene Keith Magers]
[Eugene Magers]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 13 Mar 1918
Birth Place: Honolulu, Hawaii
Death Date: 30 Jul 2003
Father: Nicholas Kasparovitch
Mother: Helen Okeshoff
SSN: 575101064
Notes: Mar 1938: Name listed as EUGENE KASPAROVITCH; Jun 1948: Name listed as EUGENE KEI MAGERS; 14 Aug 2003: Name listed as EUGENE K MAGERS
- United States. Social Security Administration. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, 2015).
Name: Eugene K. Magers
Social Security Number: 575-10-1064
Birth Date: 13 Mar 1918
Issue Year: Before 1951
Issue State: Hawaii
Last Residence: 93901, Salinas, Monterey, California, USA
Death Date: 30 Jul 2003
- Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959.
Name: Eugene Kasparovitch
Gender: Male
Departure Age: 23
Birth Date: abt 1918
Birth Place: USA
Departure Date: Dec 1941
Departure Place: Honolulu, Hawaii
Arrival Place: Honolulu, Hawaii
Ship: President Coolidge
- United States. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. (Ancestry.com [database online], 2011).
Name: Eugene Kasparovitch
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 22
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 13 Mar 1918
Birth Place: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Residence Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California, USA
Employer: Student
Height: 6 2
Weight: 198
Complexion: Light
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Next of Kin: Frank Jackson Magers
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Eugene Kasparovitch 22 Self (Head)
Mrs. Frank Jackson Magers Mother
- United States. National Archives and Records Administration (ARC # 1263923). World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946. (2002).
Name: Eugene Kasparovitch
Race: White
Marital Status: Single, without dependents (Single)
Rank: Private
Birth Year: 1918
Citizenship: Citizen
Residence: Hawaii
Education: 3 years of college
Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses
Enlistment Date: 20 Mar 1942
Enlistment Place: San Francisco, California
Service Number: 19083563
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
Height: 74
Weight: 175
- The Obituary Daily Times.
Name: Eugene Keith Magers
Age: 85
Birth Date: Abt 1918
Birth Place: Honolulu HI
Death Date: abt 2003
Death Place: Salinas CA
Publication Date: 5 Aug 2003
Publication Place: USA
Tombstone: 0
URL: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~obituary/using_db.html
- U.S. City Directories, 1821-1995: [database on-line]. (Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011).
Name: Eugene Magers
Residence Year: 1948
Street Address: 549 Soquel av
Residence Place: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Occupation: Teacher
Publication Title: Santa Cruz, California, City Directory, 1948
- California, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index.
Name: Eugene Magers
Residence Date: 13 May 1948
Residence Place: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Newspaper Title: Santa Cruz Sentinel
- .
The twelve San Jose State Spartans who arrived at the Varsity House on 25 December 1941, after Coolidge arrived in San Francisco carrying eighteen of the twenty-five team members who arrived in Honolulu on the SS Lurline on 3 December 1941. Seven team members elected to stay on Oahu to serve in the Honolulu Police Department. Six of the arriving eighteen, either went directly home or got off the team bus to go home while en route toward the College campus. L-R front row, George Foote, Walt Meyer, Tom Taylor, and Allen Hardisty. Back Row, Ken Bailey, Gene Kasparovitch, Wilbur Wool, Bert Robinson, Gray McConnell, Bill Ryne, Vern Cartwright, and Frank Minini. SJSUA
https://www.west-point.org/users/usma1955/20315/SW_2.htm
- Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010. (Provo, Utah, United States: Ancestry.com Operations, 2011).
Name: Eugene Magers
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 13 Mar 1918
Death Date: 30 Jul 2003
SSN: 575101064
Enlistment Branch: ARMY
Enlistment Date: 20 Mar 1942
Discharge Date: 13 Jan 1943
Enlistment Branch 1: ARMY
Enlistment Date 1: 14 Jan 1943
Discharge Date 1: 29 Mar 1946
Page number: 1
- U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.
Name: Eugene Magers
Residence Year: 1948
Street Address: 549 Soquel av
Residence Place: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Occupation: Teacher
Publication Title: Santa Cruz, California, City Directory, 1948
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