Gene Woods Stivers Obituary
Gene Woods Stivers of San Clemente, California, passed away peacefully at his home on February 18, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.
Gene was born on December 8, 1946 and spent his entire life in and around San Clemente. His childhood was spent surfing, fishing, gardening and caring for countless animals. During the summer, he worked for his mother, Jean Barbara Wright and her husband, Norman Hall Wright at his movie studio in Los Angeles. Gene loved the beach and would grow to become a tremendous waterman. He made his mark early on as a San Clemente lifeguard and was awarded the title of the city’s first "Lifeguard of the Year".
Heroism would become a common theme in Gene's life. When the Dana Point Harbor was constructed, he joined the Orange County Sheriff's Department, working Harbor Patrol. An intuitive emergency responder, he was involved in countless rescues and is credited with saving many lives.
His love of sea and boats would finally lead him to a life of commercial fishing, mainly lobsters, operating out of the Dana Point Harbor for 55 years.
If you were lucky enough to be in his company, he would regale you with stories of many adventures and memories of a life full to the brim.
Friends and family often joked that Gene had nine lives. In 2015, he underwent emergency heart surgery and was given a 5% chance of survival. He would prove his doctors wrong, consistently defying the odds with his steely grit and tenacious spirit. He definitely came from the mold, “When ships were made of wood and men were made of steel."
There are thousands of stories out there about Gene. He was a man’s man, and a lot of things to a lot of people. One thing he never was - boring, always quick witted with a joke and a wry sense of humor. He will forever be remembered as the life of the party, a local legend, and a courageous hero, with the most generous heart. There will never be another quite like him and he will be profoundly missed.
He is survived by his three daughters: Gina, Maile, and Ellie Stivers; siblings Michael and Peter Wright, Nancy Byrne and their children; his late sister Susie’s children, David and Craig Louden; and cousin Patrice Rutledge among a large extended family and countless friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, March 23rd 2023 at 2:30 PM at the Dana Point Harbor (34661 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, California 92629).
