Fred Geer

1933 - 2025

Fred Geer

Hancock, NH - Fred Louis Geer, 91, of Hancock, passed away at home July 17, 2025, in the company of his family. Born October 31, 1933, in Pontiac, MI, to Fred C. and Mary (Strejovec) Geer, he is survived by his wife of fifty years, Donna Geer, and their sons, Alexander and Phillip. His family and friends will remember him as a man who loved life and loved his family including dogs and cats. He was a willing story-teller and enjoyed regaling his listeners with tales from his life.

Fred grew up around the country due to his father's job with General Motors. He graduated in 1951 from Natick High School, MA, captain of the golf team. Fred then attended Brown University where he worked in dining services throughout, enrolled in the Navy ROTC, and enthusiastically joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He graduated from Brown with a BA in Economics in 1955.

Commissioned a Navy ensign, Fred attended flight school in Pensacola and earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1957. Deployed with the VW-2 Squadron to the Mediterranean area, his primary station was Malta. He was sent to many bases in countries around the region, allowing him to visit ancient sites he had studied in Classics at Brown.

Released from active duty in 1959, Fred moved to Atlanta to pursue a career in commercial real estate under the guidance of his mentor, Sam Goldberg, later forming his own company, Delta Properties. He continued flying in the Navy Reserves, rising to the rank of Commander. During this time, Fred and his first wife had two sons, Geoffrey and Mitchell; the marriage ended in divorce.

In 1967, Fred began flying commercially with Eastern Airlines, all the while continuing to work in real estate. Fred met Donna Kahl, a flight attendant, on a three day trip in 1974. They married the next year and moved to Marblehead, MA, and later to Greenfield, NH, where they welcomed two sons, Alex and Phillip in the early 1980s.

The family settled in Hancock, 1989, at which time Fred retired from Eastern Airlines as a B-727 Captain. He then worked as a residential real estate broker with The Petersons in Peterborough, retiring in 2020. Fred greatly enjoyed his sixty plus years in Real Estate!

Confirmed and raised Catholic, Fred became a Communicant of St. Peter's in Peterborough, serving as Eucharistic Minister, joining the Knights of Columbus and manning the organ on Saturday evenings. He also attended the Hancock Congregational Church with his family.

An avid skier, Fred taught skiing at Pat's Peak in his 60s and 70's while skiing almost daily at nearby Crotched. He continued periodically to visit his favorite destination for over fifty years, Landeck/Zams, Austria, to ski in Tirol with friends. Fred was a keen golfer and in one tournament, at age 66, he sank his first hole-in-one on the 18th green for a cash prize. Travel was another passion that Fred shared with family and friends, and frequently traveled in Europe with his wife. When he won an essay contest in 2009, the two toured China for three weeks.

Fred was known for his easy affability and quick, cheeky wit, both of which he retained into his final days. He is greatly missed.

A memorial of Fred's life is planned for September 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Hancock Congregational Church, Hancock, NH. A reception in the Vestry next door will follow.