Gene G. Kershner's Obituary
Gene G. Kershner, 88, of Cicero, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 4, 2026. Born in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Edwin and Hettie Kershner. Gene was a 1960 graduate of Kutztown State College where he met his beloved wife Bonnie Grace (McGovern) Ball to whom he was married for 63 years.
Gene was the owner of Internal Telecommunications Systems, Inc. (ITS), which he founded in 1975 and ran for many years with two of his sons. Before founding ITS, he also ran the Syracuse branch of National Telephone Systems after starting his business career as a salesman for National Cash Register. He was a stellar athlete at Boyertown High School, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball (captain). He went on to play basketball and baseball at Kutztown at a high level.
Gene was an avid SU fan and longtime football and basketball season ticket holder, who also enjoyed father-son “camping” trips, his annual trip to the Travers at Saratoga, his weekly card games and his many years playing golf at Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club. He attended the Big East Tournament in Manhattan for numerous years with the same group of buddies, which somehow always ended up in Atlantic City. He was a past president at Lake Shore and was the chairman of the annual Hospice of CNY golf tournament for many years raising thousands of charitable dollars.
He could always be found at one of his children’s or grandchildren’s sporting or dancing events, cheering or encouraging them on. His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, because he knew the whole family would be gathered to enjoy the day together. He was a closet Detroit Tigers fan and a tenacious card player whose competitive fire from his playing days never went out.
Along with his parents and wife, Gene was predeceased by his brother Paul.
Gene is survived by his three sons, Eugene "Bud" (Shaena), Gregory (Sheri), and Geoffrey (Melissa) Kershner; 11 grandchildren (who fondly called him Papa), Emily, Scott (Jamie Leigh Simaan – Kershner), Evan, Jennifer (Thomas) Pirro III, Anthony, Kyle, Domenic, Kevin, Natalie, Brennan and Annalise Kershner; and one great-grandson, Thomas Jack Pirro.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M., immediately followed by a funeral service in celebration of Gene's life at 12:00 P.M. in the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME 3401 Vickery Rd. (Corner of Buckley Rd.) Syracuse, NY 13212. Gene will be laid to rest privately in North Syracuse Cemetery, next to his wife, Bonnie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gene’s memory may be made to Hospice of CNY, 990 7th North St., Liverpool, NY 13088.
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