February 24, 2025
Remembering Gene de Smidt

Central Abbot David Zimmerman and Gene de Smidt at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

Gene de Smidt
Date of birth: April 21, 1945 – Date of death: October 30, 2024

 

Excerpted from the San Francisco Chronicle: “Gene DeSmidt was an accomplished woodworker and general contractor who lived in Oakland. He earned accolades for rebuilding Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse restaurant after a fire and constructing a conference center at Mills College. He also did work at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Greens as well as numerous houses in the Bay Area. He described his style as “incorporating Western building techniques with Eastern sensibilities.”

Near the end of his life, Gene was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle disease, endured numerous falls, and was moved by his family to a skilled nursing facility. Gene DeSmidt’s memorial was held on Saturday, April 12, at the Temescal Beach House in Oakland.

See the page dedicated to Gene on Cuke.com here.

“I remember him as a bright, energetic, creative person with a big heart. He was someone who loved to laugh and connect with people. He always had some story to tell about various people he met (often ‘famous’) and the projects he worked on, and there was typically some element of humor included in the telling.”—Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman

Gene’s son, Danny Desmidt, writes: “Gene’s love for Tassajara goes back to 1971 when he fixed the original bath house bridge. Since then he has built many of the structures at Tassajara, like the new bath house, dining room, courtyard cabins, stone rooms, bird house and more. Gene loved Japanese woodworking style and the traditions that came with it. The spirituality of Tassajara will forever be with Gene.”

Gene’s memorial will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Temescal Beach House. There will also be a ceremony at Tassajara on Monday, April 14. Feel free to email danny.desmidt@compass.com with any questions.

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