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Eugene R. Backofen
(1924 - 2007)
 We
were saddened to learn of the home going of PNC/PSC
Eugene R. “Gene” Backofen. He passed away on
30 December 2007 in Indianapolis IN. at the age of
83. Surviving are his wife of over 60 years Donna J
Backofen in Indianapolis, His son Bruce Backofen
with his wife Jana in Carmel, IN, his daughter Darla
Malott with her husband Leroy Jay Malott in New
Albany Indiana, His brother Donald Backofen with his
wife Ann in Fort Wayne, IN along with 6
grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Gene was a US Navy Veteran who served proudly during
WWII in the Pacific. He saw combat as a signalman
2nd class during several campaigns with the fleet as
they fought the war with the Japanese to provide
freedom for the US and the other nations of the
region.
He spent over 60 years with the Navy Club USA
serving in almost every possible position within the
organization. Gene started on the local level as an
officer of Ship #48 in Fort Wayne and was eventually
elected Commander of that ship in 1954. In December
of 1955 Gene was honored to be selected as a part of
the Pearl Harbor Commission of Navy Club as one of
the most prolific fund raisers in the organization.
He was the last living member of that commission
which placed the first official monument to all who
died at Pearl Harbor on that fateful December 7th
attack. That monument still stands today on Ford
Island just off the site of the USS Arizona
Memorial. Gene was honored last year as he and his
family were able to attend the 65th anniversary of
the attack on Pearl Harbor as a special VIP for that
auspicious ceremony.
Gene served the Indiana Squadron of Navy Club in
several capacities and was elected Indiana Squadron
Commander in 1955. That position also placed him on
the National staff where Gene served for several
years eventually being elected National Commandant
in 1969. Gene was the first person to be elected to
a consecutive 2nd term as National Commandant in
1970. Not willing to take the role of Past National
Commandant and sit back, Gene forged ahead to take
on numerous positions including National Shipswriter
and eventually National Executive Secretary, a
position that he held for over 25 years.
Gene played a significant role in several other
accomplishments during his tenure with the National
organization. Those include the establishment of the
Military Excellence award given weekly to the top
graduate of the Naval Recruit Training command at
Great Lakes. He was one of the original founders of
the Recruiter of the Year program along with his
counterpart with the Fleet Reserve Association and
Admiral Tidd. He assisted in the original formation
of the Navy Marine Corp. Council in Washington DC
along with his long time friend Lt. Commander
Richard Dodge.
Gene oversaw the first automation of the records of
Navy Club, worked tirelessly to cement deeper
relations with Navy Recruiting Command and to see
growth of the organization through the formation of
several new ships across the country.
Even in his later years Gene was still an active
participant in his new location with Ship 35 USS
Indianapolis. He was an officer as a trustee and
served as the local shipswriter. At the age of 83 he
worked as a volunteer at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway scaling 6 flights of stairs to work for 10
hours per day at the booth on several occasions in
an effort to raise money for the ship and their
various projects. He was a vital part of the
planning for the Navy week activities and the Navy
Night that was hosted by Ship 35. He never gave up
working to make Navy Club USA a better organization
and showing his love and concern for not only the
organization but the US Navy, its recruiters and
veterans of all services.
His wife Donna is a Past Indiana Squadron Commander
in the auxiliary and an active member of the ship
#35 auxiliary where she still serves as paymaster.
His son Bruce is the National Jr. Executive officer,
Past Indiana Squadron Commander and Past Commander
of Ship #35. Gene leaves a legacy of service and
dedication that has extended down to his family and
through the many men and women that he has
encouraged throughout his 60 plus years as a member
of NCUSA.
Memorial services will be held in Brownsburg Indiana
on Saturday January 19 at 2:00 PM. The location of
these services will be the Crown Room located at 900
E 56th St, Brownsburg, IN 46112-7606 you can call
them for additional directions at: 317-858-2228. A
regularly scheduled meeting of the Indiana Squadron
is taking place in Indianapolis that same morning so
the date was selected to help facilitate ease for
those wishing to attend the memorial. Brownsburg is
located about 6 miles west of Indianapolis. You can
reach Brownsburg by taking I-465 around to the west
side of town and then taking I-74 west to the
Brownsburg exit. Go south towards Brownsburg and
turn left at the first stoplight (E. Northfield
Drive). That road will curve around and head back
south. You will be turning left at E. 56th street
(also called E. 600 North), the Crown Room will be
on your left in about 1 ½ blocks).
For those wishing to give in Gene’s memory to the
ROY program write your checks to NCUSA – ROY
Program and mail them to:
National Executive Secretary – NCUSA
Eric Newman
6134 S. 375 W.
Lafayette, IN 47909
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