STANLEY GELLER

GELLER--Stanley,

98, on April 6. Devoted husband of the late Adele Robinson; son of Andrew and Beatrice, brother of Evelyn, Helen (Eisner), Monroe, and Claire (Paley), all deceased; father of Alice (Scott Levine) and George; loved and admired grandfather to Kate, Sarah, William and David Levine; great friend of Nancy Lawlor and Gail Meehan. Harvard College (1940), Harvard Law School (1947). Captain (874th Airborne Engineers) in WWII serving in New Guinea and the Philippines. Stanley enjoyed a successful career in commercial litigation but thrived in his civic commitments: President of the Village Independent Democrats during the 60's, he was instrumental in the rise of Mayor Edward Koch and served as a subcommittee chair of Mayor Koch's Judiciary Committee which created a merit selection system for judges in New York County that is still in use today. Former President of the National Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty ("PEARL"); he appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States three times, most notably on behalf of successful plaintiffs in the landmark case, Engel v. Vitale (1962), in which the Court held unconstitutional government-mandated prayers in public schools. Intrepid Renaissance man, lovingly played classical piano though tone-deaf; excellent draftsman, painter in oils and pastels though color blind; became fluent in Italian in his 60's when he also took up the banjo and motorcycling. He loved living more than life but held on to both til the end. Special thanks to Yvonne Cooper who helped to make his last years as rich as they were. He is already missed.