H. William "Bill" Geick

MASHPEE — H. William "Bill" Geick, died early Thursday morning, at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, after a long illness.

Bill was born on May 23, 1927, in Rummerfield, Pa., the only son of Harold W. Geick and Ruth Anderson. His family moved to the Boston area in 1932. He graduated in 1945 from Boston Public Schools Hyde Park High School, then attended King's Point Maritime Academy. He left King's Point to enlist in the Army and served until 1947.

Following his discharge from the Army, Bill attended Harvard University, graduating cum laude in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. He completed his master's degree in education at Boston University in 1963.

On July 27, 1952, Bill married Catherine T. "Kay" Downing of Hyde Park. Bill and Kay worked as teachers at the Fay School from 1952-1960, the beginning of a long career in education for Bill. He held various teaching and administrative posts at Fay School, Bedford Public Schools and Lexington Public Schools.

In 1970, the Geick family moved to Cape Cod, where Bill finished his career in education as assistant superintendent of the Barnstable Public School System. He retired from education in 1985 and began a second career as a tour guide, combining his love of history, travel and knowledge of the region with his joy in meeting new people. Bill was an active tour guide for more than 15 years in the New England region and the Canadian Maritimes.

Bill was an active member of Cursillo in the Fall River Diocese and a member of the Harvard Club of Cape Cod. He was an enthusiastic traveler and a great fan of sports. He and Kay traveled widely, including memorable trips with friends and family to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean. At 80 years of age, he was still skiing with his grandchildren in New Hampshire and diving off sailboats in Narragansett Bay.

Bill leaves behind Catherine, his wife of 56 years; a son Paul Geick and his wife, Shirley, and their sons, Joshua and Jason; a son David Geick and his children, Joseph and Hannah.

A wake will be held on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 3 to 7 p.m., at John-Lawrence Funeral Home, on Route 28, in Marstons Mills. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Mashpee's Christ the King Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod, or to the American Cancer Society.