Thomas Geoffrey Langdon

Geoff was born in the Bronx, New York, on December 1, 1946, the fifth of six children born to John David and Alma Langdon. The family later moved to South Florida, where Geoff graduated from Pompano Beach High School. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, serving as a medic during the Vietnam era.

After completing his military training, Geoff moved to Atlanta, Georgia to be near family before eventually settling in Birmingham, Alabama. During those early years he worked a variety of jobs, though none truly captured his interest until his sister Dorothy encouraged him to try selling promotional products for the company where she worked. It wasn’t long until it became apparent that he had discovered his life’s work.

In 1985, Geoff founded his own promotional products company and never looked back. What became Advantage Marketing evolved from focusing solely on promotional products into a full-service marketing agency that included public relations and event planning.

Geoff was passionate about downtown Birmingham, focusing much of his firm’s work on organizations dedicated to improving the City Center, including Operation New Birmingham (ONB), the City Action Partnership (CAP), and the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). He was especially proud of producing the ONB Annual Meeting, a one-of-a-kind spectacular that took place at the Alabama Theatre, the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Five Points South, and work done on behalf of the Birmingham Pledge. He also published the Venue Arts Magazine for several years. He directly invested in downtown revitalization, purchasing and renovating a long vacant building in the central business district in 1995.

Geoff was a larger-than-life presence who filled whatever room he happened to be in with humor, storytelling, and a razor-sharp wit. Having taken up boxing during his military service, he never hesitated to throw a verbal punch when he felt it was warranted — especially in defense of the defenseless. Most recently, he greatly enjoyed the spirited conversation of long-time friends and colleagues in the civic groups he was part of.

Geoff's interests were many, including movies — especially the classics — local theatre, and estate sales. But perhaps the cause closest to his heart, one shared by the love of his life and wife of 47 years, Vicki, was rescuing and advocating for neglected and abused dogs.

Geoff is survived by Vicki; his sister, Dorothy Brindley of Atlanta; brother, Barry Langdon of Sarasota, Florida; and numerous nieces, nephews, dear friends, and colleagues whose lives were made richer by knowing him.

Plans for a Celebration of Life will be announced soon.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Two by Two Rescue. Please visit https://twobytworescue.com/donate/ to give online.