Edwin Henry Geasa Jr.

Geasa Jr., Edwin H. Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired), 90, died March 10, 2023. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Patricia; son, William Geasa and wife, Patricia, Mulberry, FL; daughter, Sandra Streator and husband, William, Tampa, FL; grandchildren, “BJ” Geasa and wife, Chelsie, Lakeland, FL; Becky Schmalz and husband, Ryan, Franklin, TN; Michael Streator, Tampa, FL; Jessi Streator and husband, Ryan, St. Augustine, FL; and six great-grandchildren, Molly, Jane, Van, Hank, Brynn and Walker.

Lt. Colonel Geasa graduated from Pennsylvania State University. He began his career as a commissioned officer with the Air Force in 1955 and served his country for 20 years, primarily in tactical air operations. He was exceptionally skilled at planning and conducting multi-service airlift operations for U.S. forces and in support of UN and NATO forces. Service included tours with the Military Air Transport Service, Tactical Airlift Command, Military Airlift Command and the Air Force Technical Applications Center. Overseas assignments included France, England, Germany, Taiwan and Vietnam. Awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and a Vietnam Service Medal.

Lt. Colonel Geasa retired at MacDill AFB in January, 1975 as a Command Pilot and Instrumental Pilot Instructor.

Upon retirement, he became involved in a variety of voluntary community service activities. Active for many years in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease, he was instrumental in establishing the Greater Tampa Chapter of the national Alzheimer’s Association (now known as the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter), serving six years as the voluntary president and chief executive officer. He then joined the staff of the USF Suncoast Alzheimer’s and Gerontology Center as a volunteer coordinator for the Florida Alzheimer’s disease Brain Bank program. He was a former member of the West Coast Umpires Association. He also spent many years volunteering his time as part of Operation Helping Hand, sponsored by the Military Officers Association of America. As part of Operation Helping Hand, he provided assistance and continued support to injured polytrauma active duty and to medically retired patients injured in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

A longtime advocate for senior citizens, Lt. Colonel Geasa was also active with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in the field of crime prevention. He served 8 years as the vice president of the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Watch Association and 13 years as coordinator of the Bay Crest Park Neighborhood Watch Program. He was a founding member of the Hillsborough County Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council (S.A.L.T. Council) serving for six years, two years of which he was Chairman of the Council.

Through a lifetime of selfless efforts, his influence will live on in the memory of the many lives he touched.

A memorial service is scheduled at 11:30am on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Keystone United Methodist Church, 16301 Race Track Road, Odessa, FL. Visitation will be held thirty minutes prior. Burial will be in Florida National Cemetery for family only. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Lt. Colonel Geasa’s honor to Keystone United Methodist Church.