[post_page_title]The early years[/post_page_title]
Chaim Witz was born on August 25, 1949, in Israel to parents Florence Klein and Ferenc Wiltz. His father was a carpenter but left the family when Gene was just six years old as he had other children he wanted to look after. His mother decided when Gene turned eight that she would take her son to New York City with her to start a brand new life. It was after the move that Chaim became Eugene, which later just got shortened down to Gene.