Eugene Anthony Piotrowski, 59, of Mechanicsville, Maryland died at Anne Arundel Medical Center on November 21, 2012. He was born in Schenectady, New York on September 22, 1953 to the late Eugene Francis and Agnes (Idank) Piotrowski.

Gene enjoyed spending time with his family, cooking, fishing, hiking, hunting and kayaking. He absolutely loved the outdoors and wildlife. Most of his childhood was also spent outside in the Adirondack Mountains and surrounding areas. He was an enthusiastic member of the Boy Scouts of America and received its highest rank of Eagle Scout in 1968.

He graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse, New York in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Resource Management. There, he was an avid member of the Woodsmen's Team, excelling at crosscut, bow saw and speed chopping.

Early in his forestry career, Gene worked at the St. Regis Paper Company of Machias, Maine. After moving to Southern Maryland, he became a Project Forester and later, a State Urban Forester for the Department of Natural Resources. Under various titles, including Director of Resource Planning, Gene devoted well over thirty years of service to DNR. Working until the time of his illness, Gene was currently the Director of Public Lands Policy for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Office for a Sustainable Future in Annapolis, Maryland. He was instrumental in the passage of the wildlands bill which preserves hundreds of acres in the state of Maryland. In addition, he drafted the Forest Conservation Act, created the PLANT program and advocated for the TREE-Mendous Maryland program. Gene strongly supported fostering an environmental ethic among citizens.

Eugene is survived by his wife, Mary (LaLonde) Piotrowski; his daughter, Virginia F. Piotrowski; his son, Nicholas G. Piotrowski; two sisters, Caroline Komoroske (David) and Paula Maciag (Robert); his father-in-law, Walter LaLonde; sisters-in-law, Michelle Nelson (Frederick) and Melinda Ritter (Thomas); and nieces and nephews, Joshua Komoroske, Magdalene Maciag, Matthew Nelson, Kristen Hammer, Walter Ritter and Richard Ritter.

Family and friends will be received for a Memorial Life Celebration Gathering on Friday, November 30, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. A Memorial Service will begin at 7:00 PM in the funeral home Chapel. Deacon William Kyte will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: TREE-Mendous Maryland Gift of Trees, Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service, Tawes State Office Building E-1, Annapolis, MD 21401. Information on the Gift of Trees Program can be found at www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/treemendous/giftoftrees.asp

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., Charlotte Hall, MD.