Louis Vincent Genuario, Sr. – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army

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From a contemporary press report:

Louis Vincent Genuario Sr., 78, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who started a construction company and was involved in Fairfax County community groups, died of complications from a cranial hemorrhage January 10, 2004, at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia.

Colonel Genuario was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, and in high school lettered in soccer, basketball and baseball. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II in the China-Burma-India theater.

He was a 1950 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was captain of the soccer team.

He served in Korea during the war there. He received the Silver Star for charging with hand grenades and his automatic weapon while the enemy was encircled but preparing to break out. “Enemy breakthrough was averted and approximately 100 enemies were annihilated,” his citation read.

He was seriously wounded during the Pusan perimeter defense and the breakout across the Naktong River. He spent almost two years in the hospital recovering from wounds and then transferred to the Army Corps of Engineers.

He later attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received a master’s degree in civil engineering from Harvard University. His final active-duty assignment, in 1966, was at the Pentagon doing personnel work for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Colonel Genuario then became the area engineer for the D.C. Department of Highways and was in charge of building the Mall tunnel and Reflecting Pool project near the Capitol.

In 1970, Colonel Genuario started a construction company that has since become three firms: Genuario Construction Co. Inc., Wakefield Homes LC and Genuario Properties Inc. The companies specialize in high-end residential housing, infill development, light-commercial contracting and historic renovations.

He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, taught religious education and served on the parish council for more than 10 years. He was a lay minister for four years and was appointed by the bishop of Arlington to serve on the diocesan committee to develop plans for a priests’ retirement home.

He was appointed to the Fairfax County affordable dwelling unit advisory board and the Fairfax County disability advisory board.

He served on the city of Alexandria’s committee on affordable housing. He also helped establish the first homeless shelter in Fairfax County.

In 1998, the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association named him builder of the year.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Rose Greco Genuario of Alexandria; two sons, Arthur R. Genuario and Louis V. Genuario Jr., both of Alexandria; four daughters, Debra G. Whitt of Richmond, Christina G. Aiello of Santa Fe, N.M., and Donna G. Hart and Marina G. Nagler, both of Fredericksburg; his mother, Gemma Genuario of Westport, Conn.; a sister; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

On Saturday, morning January 10, 2004, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army (retired) Louis Vincent Genuario of Alexandria, Virginia, died of complications from a hemorrhage incurred three and a half weeks earlier. He was the beloved husband of Rose G. Genuario; loving father of Donna Hart (Donn), Christina Aiello, Marina Nagler, Arthur Genuario (Susan), Debra Whitt (Spencer) and Louis Genuario, Jr. (Laura); adoring grandfather of 14 and great-grandfather of six; devoted son of Gemma Genuario of Westport, Connecticut; caring brother of Maria Sikes of Norwalk, Connecticut, and the late Vincent Louis Genuario.Colonel Genuario was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, on January 1, 1926 to Arthur and Gemma Genuario, was a graduate of Norwalk High School where he lettered in soccer, basketball, and baseball. Colonel Genuario then spent two years in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II in the Army Air Corp. Colonel Genuario then entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1950.

Immediately following graduation, Colonel Genuario was sent to Korea and after earning the Silver Star for bravery and action was seriously wounded during Pusan Perimeter Defense and breakout across Naktong River Offensive. He spent almost two years in the hospital recovering from wounds and then transferred to the Corps of Engineers.

After various engineering assignments in the U.S., France, and Germany and studying at MIT and earning a Master’s of Civil Engineering at Harvard University, Colonel Genuario retired in 1966.

From 1966 to 1970 Colonel Genuario was an area engineer for the District of Columbia Department of Highways and was in charge of building the mall tunnel and reflecting pool project near the Capitol. In 1970 Colonel Genuario founded his own home building and development entities which now include:Genuario Construction Company Inc., Wakefield Homes LC, and Genuario Properties Inc. The companies specialize in high end residential housing, infill land development, light commercial contracting, and historic renovations.

Colonel Genuario was a charter member of Good Shephard Catholic Church, taught religious education, and had been on the parish council for over 10 years. His civic involvement included being an officer in the Williamsburg Manor North civic association; President of the Holland Meadows PTA; active in Fort Hunt High School PTA; appointed to the Fairfax County Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Board for over six years and the Fairfax County Disability Advisory Board; served also on the city of Alexandria Committee on Affordable Housing, and on the Board for the South East Fairfax Development Cooperation. Colonel Genuario had been a VP for Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services on the board of Route 1 Corridor Housing and helped established the first homeless shelter in Fairfax County. Colonel Genuario was President of Mount Vernon Country Club in 1987 and 1988; President of Alexandria Building Association 1990 to 1994; 1994 to 2000 member of Board of Army Retirement Residence Foundation, 1998 awarded Builder of the Year Northern Virginia Building Industry Association; VP and Life Director for NVVIA; Consultant to Time Life Books for 10 years and Class historian USMA 1950.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mt. Vernon Hwy., Alexandria, VA on Friday, January 16 at 12 Noon. Interment Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors on February 5 at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers any memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shephard Housing and Family Services Inc., P.O. Box 15096, Alexandria, VA 22309.

GENUARIO, LOUIS V

  • LTC   US ARMY
  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 10/01/1940 – 10/01/1961
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 01/01/1926
  • DATE OF DEATH: 01/10/2004
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 02/05/2004
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 54  SITE 11
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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