Peter H. Geiss

Pete was born in Rochester New York on July 11, 1940. The only child of Marion Harris Geiss and John Geiss Jr. He shared a bedroom until he went to college with his grandfather, Robert Emmett Harris, whom he called Emmett at his grandfather's request. Pete and Emmett, his "roommate" was like a role model and would slip him money as Pete got older.

Pete grew up in a new neighborhood with 18 kids around his age, so there was a community of activities, games and sports to be involved with. He learned values of religion and discipline at Saint Margaret Mary grammar school and McQuaid high school (he was in the first graduating class) where he excelled in school and sports - playing baseball, basketball and golf. He would ride his bicycle with a few clubs to Durand golf course. He also played trumpet and was invited to play the Star Spangled Banner at a Red Wings game. Pete learned the value of the dollar by delivering newspapers for the D&C in high school.

Pete continued his education at Saint Bonaventure University, where in his sophomore year he met Adrienne Rusin from Buffalo, when he came with a friend and fellow student to pitch at his teams game at Niagara University. They met May 6, 1960 on a blind date, soon after they started dating. He came to Buffalo on weekends, so at Adrienne's father's invitation, he took over her younger brother Mike's bedroom on weekends. Pete said her father was bribing him with food and room to marry Adrienne. Pete graduated from St Bonaventure University in 1962 and propose that day. Later on, he got a job at Eastman Kodak as a technical writer and later as supervisor in the same department. Pete and Adrienne married the following year on July 6, 1963, soon after, she finished her degree at Rosary Hill now Damon University.

They moved to Greece in Rochester and joined Our Mother of Sorrows parish, the old church on the corner of Latta Road and Mt Read Blvd, where their first son was one of the last babies baptized before moving to a newly built one the next year. Even though Pete got his Bachelor's degree in math and physics, he continued to get his Masters in 1966 from RPI in Technical Writing.

Pete and Adrienne went on to have four children, three boys and one girl: Peter J, Tristen, Evan and Nolan. Pete was a very involved, hands-on father. He coached basketball and was always at the sidelines cheering his children on in any of the events that they were involved. Pete was very much a family man. His vacation time was always spent on family outings and never on himself. In Pete's eyes, his four children were his four superstars an as he put it each shining brightly in their own unique way, and he loved all four equally dearly and completely.

There were many ups and downs in their lives, but with God's help they made it through to 63 years of marriage. Adrienne was always his number one. He retired from Kodak in 1991 through the early retirement program then worked part-time for many years at Ridgemont country club in course maintenance. After that he and Adrienne began to travel on vacations with close family friends to Ireland, Alaska, and many parts of the US over the years. Every summer, the family spent a couple of weeks at Christie Lake in Canada, With the Comptons in the Monti's, who became more like family than just friends, the kids grew up like cousins, and then the next generation continued that tradition and became more like cousins than just friends. Pete and Adrienne shared many good times and sad ones with coworkers and friends and will always cherish the memories.

Peter is pre-deceased by parents John and Marion Geiss, brother-in-law Larry Roche, he has survived by the light of his life and soulmate Adrienne, his four children who all claimed to be his favorite, Peter (Barbara) Geiss, Tristen (Mike) Mandara, Evan Geiss, Nolan (Mya) Geiss, grandchildren Alison (Matthew), Zachary, Brittney (Neil) Vaughn, Addison, Kylie, great-grandchildren Quinn, and Xander, brother-in-law, Michael (Trish) Rusin, sister-in-law Marion (Gary Doke) Roche. Nephews Christopher and Andrew.

Pete loved his sports so in his honor feel free to wear any gear from his favorite team: Bills, Bonaventure, Syracuse, Yankees or Notre Dame.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Camp Good Days or a favorite charity of your choice.