Obituary for Eugene Albert Kane Jr.
Eugene Albert Kane Jr. passed on April 16, 2020 at the age of 63 in Milwaukee, WI. Eugene grew up in North Philadelphia and spent much of his adolescence and early adult years there until his career landed him in Milwaukee, WI.
Eugene was a natural conversationalist, correspondent, and journalist. He discovered his love of writing from an early age. As a child, he entertained himself by writing and reading original stories with his brothers and sister. Eugene attended Temple University where he majored in Journalism and minored in Black Studies. As a senior at Temple, he published stories on a freelance basis in local newspapers like the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. After graduation, he enrolled in a graduate minority journalism program at the University of California, Berkeley.
In September of 1984, Eugene moved to Milwaukee to join the Milwaukee Journal’s staff. He sharpened his journalism skills while writing for several “city beats,” including federal courts, suburban government, and entertainment. In 1992, Eugene was awarded the prestigious John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Shortly after he returned to Milwaukee, Eugene began writing the award winning “Raising Kane” column in the newly established Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Family, friends, and colleagues often spoke of Eugene’s humor and his tendency to be a “straight shooter.” Although he considered himself an introvert, he found refuge and comfort in community. During his early days in Milwaukee, Eugene and several other minority journalists found a caucus in one another’s company while working in the city’s media industry. Although several of his colleagues left Milwaukee to take jobs at other large papers, Eugene maintained friendships through the years and looked forward to annual reunions with friends at the annual National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference.
Throughout his career, he was known for his passion for the Milwaukee community and his commitment to calling out racial injustice and inequities. Eugene was a two-time National Headliner Award winner for Best Local Column, a National Association of Black Journalists award winner for Best Commentary, and a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner from the Society of Professional Journalists for Best General Column. In 2014, with his family in attendance, Eugene was inducted into the Milwaukee Media Hall of Fame. In addition to his career at the Journal Sentinel, Eugene served as a lecturer at Marquette University and UW-Milwaukee, hosted the TV show “Black Noveau” on Milwaukee Public Television, served on panels and radio shows, and served as a mentor.
Eugene was previously deceased by father, Eugene Albert Kane, mother Hattie (Freeman) Kane and brothers Cornelius and Michael. He leaves to celebrate his life: his surviving sister Edna Kane Williams of Bowie, MD; five nephews and a niece (Khalil, Jaleel, Anwar, Anthony Kai, Ayanna, and Andrew); and many other relatives and friends.
Eugene was known and loved by many. We acknowledge the thousands of readers, friends, and colleagues who cherished his words and his passion for life. He will remain forever beloved in our lives.
Eugene was a natural conversationalist, correspondent, and journalist. He discovered his love of writing from an early age. As a child, he entertained himself by writing and reading original stories with his brothers and sister. Eugene attended Temple University where he majored in Journalism and minored in Black Studies. As a senior at Temple, he published stories on a freelance basis in local newspapers like the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. After graduation, he enrolled in a graduate minority journalism program at the University of California, Berkeley.
In September of 1984, Eugene moved to Milwaukee to join the Milwaukee Journal’s staff. He sharpened his journalism skills while writing for several “city beats,” including federal courts, suburban government, and entertainment. In 1992, Eugene was awarded the prestigious John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Shortly after he returned to Milwaukee, Eugene began writing the award winning “Raising Kane” column in the newly established Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Family, friends, and colleagues often spoke of Eugene’s humor and his tendency to be a “straight shooter.” Although he considered himself an introvert, he found refuge and comfort in community. During his early days in Milwaukee, Eugene and several other minority journalists found a caucus in one another’s company while working in the city’s media industry. Although several of his colleagues left Milwaukee to take jobs at other large papers, Eugene maintained friendships through the years and looked forward to annual reunions with friends at the annual National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference.
Throughout his career, he was known for his passion for the Milwaukee community and his commitment to calling out racial injustice and inequities. Eugene was a two-time National Headliner Award winner for Best Local Column, a National Association of Black Journalists award winner for Best Commentary, and a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner from the Society of Professional Journalists for Best General Column. In 2014, with his family in attendance, Eugene was inducted into the Milwaukee Media Hall of Fame. In addition to his career at the Journal Sentinel, Eugene served as a lecturer at Marquette University and UW-Milwaukee, hosted the TV show “Black Noveau” on Milwaukee Public Television, served on panels and radio shows, and served as a mentor.
Eugene was previously deceased by father, Eugene Albert Kane, mother Hattie (Freeman) Kane and brothers Cornelius and Michael. He leaves to celebrate his life: his surviving sister Edna Kane Williams of Bowie, MD; five nephews and a niece (Khalil, Jaleel, Anwar, Anthony Kai, Ayanna, and Andrew); and many other relatives and friends.
Eugene was known and loved by many. We acknowledge the thousands of readers, friends, and colleagues who cherished his words and his passion for life. He will remain forever beloved in our lives.