Gene Patrick Belardinelli, 57, of Leesburg, Fla., passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness at his home on March 8, 2025.
Gene was born in Wilkes-Barre, son of Dorothy Michaels Belardinelli and the late Francis Belardinelli. He was a former member of St. Boniface and St. Patrick parishes in Wilkes-Barre. Gene was a 1985 graduate of GAR Memorial High School. After graduation, he worked at Luzerne Optical until 1989. Then, for the next 35 years, Gene worked for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District in field maintenance until retiring in March of 2024.
Gene’s lifelong dream was to retire and move to Florida. In April of 2024, he married his best friend, Amy, and together they made that dream a reality. They moved to a small community in Leesburg, Fla., right on Lake Griffin. Anyone who knew Gene knew his love of fishing. He would spend hours on the pier right outside his front door relaxing and waiting to catch anything that would hit his line. It was here that he met his new friend, Gertrude, the alligator. He also loved going to various fishing tournaments during his time in Florida.
Gene enjoyed going to Old Town with Amy, hanging out at the car shows, and he took pride in his own 2006 Dodge Charger. He often referred to living in Florida with the love of his life as his little slice of heaven.
Gene adored his son and two grandsons and cherished every moment that he got to spend with them. He made friends easily wherever he went. He had many, old and new, who he enjoyed spending time with, whether shooting pool, fishing, or just hanging out having a drink. He was a loving husband, and he and Amy would have celebrated their first anniversary on April 11.
There are so many memories of Gene that we will all cherish, and we will continue to carry on the many stories and adventures that he shared with us all. He is missed beyond words and his absence will leave a lasting void. He is finally reunited with his wolf dog, Banditt.
Gene is survived by his beloved wife, Amy (Dixon); son, Jared and his wife, Lindsey; mother, Dorothy Belardinelli; sisters, Martina Thomas and her husband, Kevin; Nicole Amos; Melissa Molnar and her husband, Ron; grandsons: Cole and Luke; nieces: Lacey and Leah; mother and father-in-law, Anette and Edward Dixon; stepdaughter, Amanda; and brother-in-law, Edward; along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Gene was preceded in death by his father, Francis Patrick Belardinelli; and both maternal and paternal grandparents.
A celebration of Gene’s life will begin with a visitation from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, followed by a memorial service at noon. The Rev. Vincent Dang will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Luzerne County Down Syndrome Network Fund, through the Luzerne Foundation at luzfdn.org; Luzerne County SPCA; or Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge.