Eugene A. Reale, 88, of Elizabeth, NJ passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019. Affectionately known as “Big Gene”, he was a lifelong resident of Elizabeth who had summered in his Ortley Beach shore house since 1950. A Korean War veteran, he served in the US Army Signal Corps from 1953 – 1955 as a Field Radio Repair Specialist—spending 13 months with the 181st Signal Depot Company, 8th Army, Yong Dong Po, Korea. Gene was a graduate of Rutgers University, Newark, NJ. He worked for 29 years at the Bristol-Myers Company in Hillside, NJ, retiring in 1985 as a Computer Systems Analyst. Beginning in the early 1960s, he wrote programs for three different mainframe computers and was a pioneer in his field. Previously, he was employed as an Accountant with the Union County Park Commission and as Maitre D’ of the storied Flagship nightclub on Route 22 in Union. Gene was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Laura Gloria, in 2013. He is survived by his two sons, Richard Reale and his wife Claudia of Leavenworth, KS, Ronald Reale and his wife Donna of Englishtown, NJ, three grandchildren Ryan, Daniel and Jamie, his caregiver Lato and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Thursday 4:00-8:00pm at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 706 Grand Central Ave., Lavallette, NJ. A funeral service will be offered Friday 10:00am at the funeral home. Burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Newark, NJ. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.