Eugene R. Geesey

Eugene Ronald “Gene” Geesey, 91, of New Oxford, PA, passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, January 5, 2023.  Gene was born in Dallastown, PA on December 1, 1931, the son of the late Luther and Rose (Jennings) Geesey.  A 1949 Dallastown High School graduate, he was a member of Dallastown’s very first football team and made Dallastown’s first touchdown.  To this day, he holds the record for Dallastown’s longest touchdown run, 97 yards.  He graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1956 with a B.S. in economics, where he also played football and repeated the feat of running a 97-yard touchdown.  He was a member of Knights of the Valley, chaired the college’s Veterans Club, and was Director emeritus of the College’s Board of Trustees.

Gene served in the Army during the Korean War from 1951-1953 where he was assigned to the Counterintelligence Corps.

Gene was president of the Geesey-Pollion Associates, an insurance and bonding agency, and later CIB, independent insurance agencies.

Gene represented his much-loved York County in the state legislature for 6 consecutive terms from 1969 until his retirement in 1980.  During his tenure, he was prime sponsor for no-fault automobile legislation designed to streamline the process of settling automobile insurance claims.  Two events during his tenure signified Gene’s dedication to constituent service: the 1972 Agnes flood and 1979 partial meltdown of Three Mile Island’s Unit 2 nuclear reactor.  During Agnes, he worked tirelessly for months after the flood to organize clean up and assistance efforts.  During Three Mile Island, he walked the affected area of his district with a Geiger counter to evaluate the impact of that disaster.  At one point, Gene was asked how he wanted to be remembered for his time in the state legislature.  His response: that “I gave a damn.”

Gene served as auditor for Fairview Township, York County for four years, and during his service as State Representative for 6 years he served as: chairman of the Professional Licensure Committee and the House Management Committee; co-chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate Local Government Problems; vice-chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee and the Select Committee to Investigate Insurance Regulation in PA; secretary to the Committee to Investigate Three Mile Island and the Select Committee to Investigate the Administration of Justice; and member of the Select PA Committee to Develop Powers and Responsibilities for Elected Attorney General. 

Gene served as a past board member of the Coastal Concert Association, and the Coastal Carolina University – Georgetown Branch; was a past member of the Big 33 Scholarship Committee, the York County Industrial Development Authority Board, and the York County Industrial Development Authority; served on the Board of Trustees at Lebanon Valley College and was chair of the Facilities Committee; was chairman of the advisory board of the Fairview Branch of the Southern Pennsylvania Bank; earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Northern Republican Club; was named Outstanding Graduate of Lebanon Valley College in 1976; and was a member of the Freemasons.

Gene is survived by his wife Barbara (nee Hegley), children Cynthia (Richard Jarvis), David (Wendy Heagerty), Ann (Jim Loder), Beth (Steve Birch), Sue Geesey-Jean (Albert Jean), and Joe (the late Ruth).  Also grandchildren Nathan, Sonia Anastasi (James), Ryan Hoffman (Alexandra), and Andrew Hoffman; great grandchildren Owen, Mason, and Lily Anastasi.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Geesey Stabley.

Family, friends, community and country were important to Gene.  He was an avid sports enthusiast, loved playing golf and bridge, and cared deeply about youth in our times.  A loving, caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many, Gene was known for his wit, kindness, and generosity of spirit, always making those in his presence feel valued and important.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.  Burial will be in St. John’s Blymire UCC Cemetery, Dallastown, PA.  A public Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 10 AM -2 PM, Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Gathering Room, Main Harmony Ridge Building at Cross Keys Village, 2990 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford, PA. 

Memorial donations may be made in Eugene’s name to the York County History Center, 250 E. Market Street, York, PA 17403, the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Shriner’s Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607-1460. 

The Kenworthy Funeral Home, Inc., 269 Frederick Street, Hanover, PA has been entrusted by the family with the funeral arrangements.  Memories and condolences may be shared at www.kenworthyfh.com.

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