Obituary of Eugene Richard Hacker, Jr.

On the evening of Tuesday, September 29, at the age of 59, Eugene Richard Hacker Jr. passed away peacefully, marking the end of a valiant battle with cancer.  His positivity, humor, warmth, and courage never wavered from the beginning. He had said that he was a rich man, counting all of the blessings bestowed on him in his lifetime.  He was enveloped by the love of his life and the love of his family and friends, who cherished him dearly. He never knew a stranger, and talked to everyone who crossed his path.  He genuinely loved people.  With a cheerful heart, he welcomed everyone into his home.  He was a talented musician and played in bands and sang a cappella.  He found joy and pleasure in simple things and didn’t want for more than he had, though he meticulously cared for that which he kept.  He loved the water and spending time in his back yard, but the people in his life were what mattered most and he selflessly put others first right up until the finish. Eugene, or “Gene” as many people knew him, was born on March 14, 1961 in Plainfield, New Jersey to Eugene and Patricia Hacker as the oldest of four children.  As a child, he was drawn to the water, as he loved swimming and diving.  But his musical talent really shined from trumpet to drums in his school marching bands.  He later moved to Manahawkin, New Jersey, and attended Southern Regional High School, where he met his loving wife, Jo-Ann, whom he married in November of 1982.   As a reaffirmation of their love and commitment, Gene and Jo-Ann renewed their wedding vows on July 23 surrounded by the love of their children and grandchildren.  They began a family and moved to Little Egg Harbor, NJ, where their four children spent most of their childhood and later relocated to Tuckerton, NJ.  For most of his life, he was a land surveyor, among being a jack of all trades.  But through his adult life, he always made time for music.  From being a country western drummer for Ocean’s Outlaws to singing a cappella with Surfside Serenade and The Soundmasters, he brought joy through music, and his musical legacy continues to live on through his children. He is preceded in death by his Mother, Patricia Capone Hacker and his daughter-in-law, Brooke Hacker. He is survived by his wife, Jo-Ann; his son and daughter-in-law Eugene and Jessica Hacker, and their children, Cora and Rylan; sons Jason Hacker and Christopher Hacker; and daughter and son-in-law Nicole and Damon DeSio.  He is also survived by his father, Eugene R. Hacker, Sr., sister and brother-in-law Kelly and Joseph Mancini and family, sister Valerie Hambly and family, and brother Keith Hacker. A private memorial service for immediate family will be held in his honor on Monday, October 5, 2020 at 12:00 PM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, officiated by Father Ken.  The service will be streamed so that all can join us in honoring and celebrating the life of such a beloved man.  We encourage family and friends to post stories and memories.  Follow this channel to join us Monday and view a memorial slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVF4-Yc1hv4iO-NHzd95Eg In leu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to World Central Kitchen or the SOMC Foundation. https://wck.org https://give.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4943&4943.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&_ga=2.183532838.1675587127.1601648295-433678527.1601648295 He had always said to his children to leave things better than the way that you found them.  When the Lord finally came to heal him and walk with him into eternity, he left this world that way.