In Memoriam
Below is the death notice of Kathleen "Katie" Geiger, Husband of Thomas Geiger, Class of 1987, Mother of Paul Gieger, Class of 2018, Sister-in-law, of James Geiger, Class of 1976, and Phillip Gieger, Class of 1977 Please keep the Geiger family in your prayers.
Kathleen Kay Geiger, age 53, of Fairview Park and Vermilion passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023. A determined and relentless fighter, she was diagnosed in February 2010 with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, just after turning age 40, and beat the odds for more than 13 years. Cancer informed her, but did not dominate her.
Katie grew-up on the Linwood Park beach in Vermilion, where she spent every Summer from the age of 4 (except one Summer of “tanorexia” by the swimming pool in Belmont, CA). She had a competitive spirit, played varsity basketball and volleyball, enjoyed yacht racing on Lake Erie and for many years was a traveling “hockey mom”.
Katie graduated from Carlmont H.S. and trained as a Biologist at the University of Toledo (B.S. 1992) where she conducted genetic research on salamanders, drove a campus bus and met her college sweetheart and beloved husband of 29-years, Thomas M. “Tom” Geiger. Katie was devoted to her children, Paul and Claire, invested in their educations and proud of their hard-won achievements. In recent years, she very much enjoyed exploring the California Central Coast with her family.
Katie was always on-the-go, ever curious about life and people, an adventurous cook and a lover of restaurants. Outgoing and gregarious, with an infectious smile and sparkling green-eyes, Katie developed a wide-circle of friends during her 30-year medical career as a Laboratory Manager for Quest Diagnostics and the Cleveland HeartLab, Phelbotomy Supervisor at University Hospitals - St. John Medical Center, and Medical Technologist at Southwest General and MetroHealth. She worked until the very end and was generous with her time, serving on The Gathering Place’s Development Board and the UH-Seidman Cancer Center’s Patient Family Partnership Council.
Katie’s family and friends relied on her clarity of thinking, her unpretentious common-sense and her giant heart. She also will be deeply missed by her surviving parents, Dave and Roberta Berns; brothers Ben, Tom (Natalie) and Steve (Rahe); an extended family of relatives; and many many friends who were lucky to meet her and share a laugh.
Arrangements are being handled by the McGorray-Hanna Funeral Home. There will be a small service for immediate family members only. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The Gathering Place. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.
Posted on: April 24, 2023
You can view a list of all St. Ed's Alumni who have passed away on our website.
Make a Gift in Honor of Kathleen Kay “Katie” Geiger
St. Edward High School is humbled by the generosity expressed by our community. Commemorative gifts enable us to empower our students with the knowledge, skills, and Holy Cross values to grow into Christ-like servant leaders. To make a memorial gift, click below.
