June 2, 2019 9:15p
(WGTD)---A 35-year-old Racine man who died while trying to protect his girlfriend from her ex-boyfriend was a well-liked manager at Froedtert South in Kenosha and had just received a promotion.
Friends and family of Gene Smith gathered Sunday evening for a Racine Interfaith Coalition vigil outside of the duplex on Racine’s north side where the fatal stabbing occurred last week.
Coworkers said Smith had worked for several years as a coordinator in the housekeeping department, and had just received a kitchen management position. "You could joke around with him. He was just wonderful," said co-worker Rhonda Grimes. "He was always even keeled. He never raised his voice and always had something good to say about people," she said.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith was defending Joy Reid from a knife attack by Lapiate Boone when he too was stabbed.
Reid, who works in the linen department at St. Catherine's, is recovering from her injuries.
The complaint said Reid and Smith been living together.
Coworkers also had praise for Reid, who said she and Smith were very much alike.
Smith leaves behind two daughters, one of whom was said to have been on an out-of-town class trip when the stabbing occurred.
Reid's two children had been living with Boone in the duplex, although the lease carried just Reid's name, according to the complaint.
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