Gene Arthur Bessette was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts to parents, Macaulic and Mary Amanda (Bacon) Bessette. Bessette was an only child and grew up in Bristol County, St. Petersburg, and Kansas City, Missouri. Bessette’s father was a manager of a drug store and moved the family with his job. By 1940, the entire family was living in Hillsborough County, Florida. Bessette joined the US Navy, served from 7 Oct 1942 to 7 Apr 1946, and had an honorable discharge. Bessette returned to Hillsborough County and in November 1949, he married his wife, Brucie Theresa Gailmard, and they had three sons (Blair L., Michael G., and Mark E.). Bessette worked as a manager at Coastal Finance.
Bessette started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was assigned on motorcycle patrol. On 10 Nov 1961, Bessette was on patrol riding his motorcycle eastbound in the 1200 block of 22 Avenue South. A vehicle drove southbound on 12 Street South, ran the stop sign at 22 Avenue South, and struck Bessette’s motorcycle, which threw him 44 feet from the impact. Bessette was rushed to Mound Park Hospital and was in emergency surgery for three hours, but Bessette died from his injuries at 2106 hours.
Officer Bessette was survived by his parents; his wife, Brucie; and his three sons Blair L. (11), Michael G. (8), and Mark E. (1). A large service was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and Bessette was buried in Hillsborough County at the Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. At age 37 and with 2 years of service, Officer Gene Arthur Bessette was the ninth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Bessette started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was assigned on motorcycle patrol. On 10 Nov 1961, Bessette was on patrol riding his motorcycle eastbound in the 1200 block of 22 Avenue South. A vehicle drove southbound on 12 Street South, ran the stop sign at 22 Avenue South, and struck Bessette’s motorcycle, which threw him 44 feet from the impact. Bessette was rushed to Mound Park Hospital and was in emergency surgery for three hours, but Bessette died from his injuries at 2106 hours.
Officer Bessette was survived by his parents; his wife, Brucie; and his three sons Blair L. (11), Michael G. (8), and Mark E. (1). A large service was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and Bessette was buried in Hillsborough County at the Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. At age 37 and with 2 years of service, Officer Gene Arthur Bessette was the ninth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Gene Arthur Bessette was born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts to parents, Macaulic and Mary Amanda (Bacon) Bessette. Bessette was an only child and grew up in Bristol County, St. Petersburg, and Kansas City, Missouri. Bessette’s father was a manager of a drug store and moved the family with his job. By 1940, the entire family was living in Hillsborough County, Florida. Bessette joined the US Navy, served from 7 Oct 1942 to 7 Apr 1946, and had an honorable discharge. Bessette returned to Hillsborough County and in November 1949, he married his wife, Brucie Theresa Gailmard, and they had three sons (Blair L., Michael G., and Mark E.). Bessette worked as a manager at Coastal Finance.
Bessette started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was assigned on motorcycle patrol. On 10 Nov 1961, Bessette was on patrol riding his motorcycle eastbound in the 1200 block of 22 Avenue South. A vehicle drove southbound on 12 Street South, ran the stop sign at 22 Avenue South, and struck Bessette’s motorcycle, which threw him 44 feet from the impact. Bessette was rushed to Mound Park Hospital and was in emergency surgery for three hours, but Bessette died from his injuries at 2106 hours.
Officer Bessette was survived by his parents; his wife, Brucie; and his three sons Blair L. (11), Michael G. (8), and Mark E. (1). A large service was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and Bessette was buried in Hillsborough County at the Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. At age 37 and with 2 years of service, Officer Gene Arthur Bessette was the ninth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Bessette started working as a police officer for the City of St. Petersburg and was assigned on motorcycle patrol. On 10 Nov 1961, Bessette was on patrol riding his motorcycle eastbound in the 1200 block of 22 Avenue South. A vehicle drove southbound on 12 Street South, ran the stop sign at 22 Avenue South, and struck Bessette’s motorcycle, which threw him 44 feet from the impact. Bessette was rushed to Mound Park Hospital and was in emergency surgery for three hours, but Bessette died from his injuries at 2106 hours.
Officer Bessette was survived by his parents; his wife, Brucie; and his three sons Blair L. (11), Michael G. (8), and Mark E. (1). A large service was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and Bessette was buried in Hillsborough County at the Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. At age 37 and with 2 years of service, Officer Gene Arthur Bessette was the ninth St. Petersburg police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
Inscription
FL Sp-2 USNR WWII
Gravesite Details
National Law Enforcement Memorial: Panel 30 - E: line 28
