Gene Francis Reardon

Gene Francis Reardon, a longtime Aspenite and social kingpin, died in Denver on Nov. 16, 2005, after suffering a stroke in Aspen in October. He was 75 years old.Gene was a scholar and athlete, graduating from Rockhurst, a private Jesuit school, in Kansas City, Mo. in only three years. Gene was also quarterback and captain of his football team, as well as all-city basketball, and he played in the semipro baseball Ben Johnson League. He was offered professional baseball contracts with both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but elected to pursue a career in law after graduating from the University of Missouri. Then he received his master’s at the University of Southern California.Gene became the head trial attorney for the Internal Revenue Service in Los Angeles and in 1961 moved to Denver to practice law with his father and sister in the firm of Reardon, Reardon & Reardon. Gene represented many well-known clients throughout the United States. He was also a member of the Petroleum, 26, and Garden of the Gods clubs.Gene moved to the mountains full time in 1985 and pursued an active lifestyle of skiing, traveling and making friends. Gene Reardon’s Run on Aspen Mountain was named in his honor. He was the founding host of the legendary Fish House Punch Party as well as the world renowned Wine Party, believed to be the longest running mountain party in America. Gene also originated the Chicago White Party and the New York Christmas Party. He will be dearly missed by many of his lifelong friends who have remarked, “This is the end of an era.”Gene is survived by his wife, Diana Towle Reardon of Aspen, her son Max, and his sister, Julie Reardon of Denver.There will be a ski celebration for Gene Reardon in December in Aspen on the top of Reardon’s Run on Aspen Mountain. Please join us in saluting Gene goodbye.