The Gene Denk I knew...

cbk406

Gary Evans
Hi all,
Except for 1st, 4th and 5th grades, I had classes in the Omak, Washington school system with Gene every year through 1966 when we graduated in a class of about 100. He was a very close friend, especially during our high school years on the basketball team. He was popular, a standout athletically, academically and in student government. After high school he went on to the University of Michigan on a golf scholarship majoring in chemical engineering, then back to the University of Washington for his medical degree. (Another female classmate, either our valedictorian or salutatorian also became a medical doctor.) Gene stayed with me and my wife several times when he was finishing up his medical degree and looking for internships around 73 or 74 in the Los Angeles area since I was living in Pasadena. Once we played some pickup basketball, but otherwise we didn't have much time to talk and catch up. One time he left several books on Scientology as a gift, something I hadn't heard of. Several times before 1976 I tried calling Gene, the last time to see if he was going to our 10 year class reunion. He wasvery distant and had no interest in a class reunion. I left California for New Jersey in 1984 and regret not connecting with Gene during those years since we lived just over 10 miles from the Shaw Health Center. I returned often to LA on business and pleasure and several times stopped by the Shaw Health Center but never found Gene in. The last time, perhaps 2005, I wedged my business card in the door with a note to Gene. A few days later I had a phone call and the person told me that Gene had passed away. About that time I googled “Gene Denk” and realized, after numerous internet hours how immersed he was in Scientology and Scientology controversy.
I have no psychological credentials, but in looking back, I now wonder if Scientology provided the stable home he never had growing up. Gene’s parents divorced when he was in elementary school and to my knowledge he always lived with his dad Frank, who I thought was wonderful—kind, generous and humorous. Frank worked for the lumber mill in Omak, but left for another job in lumber in Bend, Oregon before Gene finished high school. Gene stayed in Omak and lived with his older brother’s family until graduation.

I miss the Gene I knew and am saddened to read about his life with Scientology.
 

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mimsey borogrove

Well-known member
I liked Dr Denk - he was my Dr. till he specialized his practice on one patient - Mr. Hubbard - and again when Hubbard transmogrified to Target 2. Then Denk up and died on me. Maybe his patient on Target 2 needed him? I also liked Megan Sheilds as well, and she took over until she also kicked the bucket. I am hoping that these dying Dr's are not a weird Mimsey curse - I like my Dr. at Kaiser and hope he sticks around. He has a great bedside manner - here's a picture I took of him. He says smoking kills covid 19 - bully for him.

Mimsey

 

stratty

Inveterate gnashnab & snoutband
I like my Dr. at Kaiser and hope he sticks around. He has a great bedside manner - here's a picture I took of him. He says smoking kills covid 19 - bully for him.

Mimsey

Don't be silly mimsey, that's Vincent Price.
 

The Oracle

Not the same Oracle from a decade ago
I liked Dr Denk - he was my Dr. till he specialized his practice on one patient - Mr. Hubbard - and again when Hubbard transmogrified to Target 2. Then Denk up and died on me. Maybe his patient on Target 2 needed him? I also liked Megan Sheilds as well, and she took over until she also kicked the bucket. I am hoping that these dying Dr's are not a weird Mimsey curse - I like my Dr. at Kaiser and hope he sticks around. He has a great bedside manner - here's a picture I took of him. He says smoking kills covid 19 - bully for him.

Mimsey

Wowzer. Gene appears "dark". Unhealthy and strange looking. Reminds me of Vincent Price. Smoking a cigarette? Oh yeah, "smoking cures cancer" LRH!
 

mimsey borogrove

Well-known member
Don't be silly mimsey, that's Vincent Price.
No - That's my Doctor, Dr. Phibes. He does look a lot like Vincent though.

Growing up in the fifties - I read all of Poe's books, and loved those horror movies - The Pit and the Pendulum, Thirteen ghosts, The Tingler, The Fly, and the war films, run silent run deep, sink the Bismark, the Japanese monster films - mothra, godzilla. Nothing but quality film making for me.

Help me, help me, help me......

 

stratty

Inveterate gnashnab & snoutband
No - That's my Doctor, Dr. Phibes. He does look a lot like Vincent though.

Growing up in the fifties - I read all of Poe's books, and loved those horror movies - The Pit and the Pendulum, Thirteen ghosts, The Tingler, The Fly, and the war films, run silent run deep, sink the Bismark, the Japanese monster films - mothra, godzilla. Nothing but quality film making for me.

Help me, help me, help me......

Yes, those are more or less the same films I watched when I was a kid. We had an episode of Flash Gordon every Saturday morning at the cinema too, along with the Three Stooges and Stan and Ollie. I'd happily re-live my life on an everlasting loop between the ages of about nine and fifteen. Leaving aside two or three momentous experiences, they were definitely the happiest years of my life.
 
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