Dr. William Lawrence Geary

Bill was born on December 4, 1929 in New Orleans. As a child and young man, he overcame the difficult challenge of losing his father at age 10 through hard work and faith, and with the loving support of his mother, siblings and extended family living in adjacent homes on S. Prieur Street. He remained especially close to his siblings throughout their years.

He attended high school at New Orleans Academy, where he was a star halfback and became the all-time leading scorer in football. He ran track, and set the record for the fastest mile run in a Louisiana high school track meet. His record stood for years. As a senior at NOA, he was elected Governor of Louisiana Boys State. He went on to be elected as national President of Boys State and meet President Truman. In his later years, he was honored with induction in the New Orleans Prep Sports Hall of Fame, and a plaque honoring him and his accomplishments was placed on the wall at Ye Olde College Inn.

Bill attended Tulane University on a track scholarship. He won the Southeastern Conference championship in the half mile run. He also won the half mile championship in the inter-conference meet between the SEC and the Southern Conference (now the ACC). He served as the captain of the track team. He was graduated with a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1952, and then attended Tulane Medical School.

In 1955, during his senior year at Tulane Medical School, he met Frances Dean Wendland. He and Deanie were married later that year, and they celebrated each day of their 62 fantastic years together.

After medical school, he completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and in Independence, Louisiana. In 1957, he and Deanie moved to Ankara, Turkey, where Bill served for two years as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps. During that time, they traveled throughout the region and had one of the most exciting periods of their lives.

After completing his tour of duty, he and Deanie returned to New Orleans, where he joined the staff of Ochsner Foundation Hospital in 1963. He became chairman of the Ochsner department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and served for many years. He served as President of the Ochsner medical staff, served on the Ochsner Clinic board of management, and directed the residency training program in Ob/Gyn. He enjoyed rich professional and personal relationships with his Ob/Gyn colleagues at Ochsner. They became extended family to one another, and remained lifelong friends. He retired from Ochsner in 1996. The delivery waiting room at Ochsner Baptist is dedicated to him, “as a mentor to all physicians who passed through these doors between 1963-1996.”

Bill belonged to ten professional medical societies, and served as chairman of the Louisiana Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and as President of the Continental Gynecological Society.

He was a member of several Carnival organizations and social clubs, where he thoroughly enjoyed many lifelong friendships. He and Deanie loved New Orleans jazz, food and culture, and were happiest when they were together on the dance floor. He loved chocolate snowballs, PJ’s iced mochas and old fashioneds – especially old fashioneds mixed by James Kelly.

In 1967, his family began a tradition of spending time in the mountains of Highlands, North Carolina that lasts to this day. There, he and his family loved and laughed, developed numerous close and lifelong friendships, slid waterfalls, rafted rivers, played bridge and celebrated the beauty of God’s creations. In retirement, he and Deanie spent several months of each year in Highlands, and were joined in the summer by all of their children and grandchildren.

He took up bridge in the 1990’s, and in retirement he became a silver life master. He earned recognition in bridge, just as he had done in sports. In 2014, he was recognized by New York Times columnist Philip Alder after an outstanding game. At age 90, he expanded his skills during the pandemic by learning to play bridge online.

As a father, he instilled in his children the importance of family, love, sacrifice, a deep and abiding faith and a dependence on an almighty God. He was a long-time parishioner of Tulane Catholic, and a regular retreatant at Manresa House of Retreats. He was a role model in faith and love to everyone around him. Although he won many races in his early years, he saved his best race for last, as he cared for Deanie for several years throughout her final illness.

He loved his grandchildren, and took a special interest in each of them. He was quick to engage them and nurtured unique relationships with each one.

He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Frances Dean Wendland Geary, and his daughter, Helen Elizabeth Geary. He was also predeceased by his parents, Cyril Paul Geary and Cyril Cooke Geary, and his siblings, Gwendolyn Geary Molony, Marjorie Geary Carbine, Elizabeth Geary Petagna and Cyril Paul Geary, Jr.

Bill is survived by four children and twelve grandchildren: William Lawrence Geary, Jr. of Washington, DC (Quinn and Helen), Covert James Geary (Lisa) of Mandeville, LA (Cei, Caroline and Cove), Dr. Stephen Paul Geary (Keri) of Greenville, SC (Eliza (Chris McMillan), Paul, Marion and Diana), and Anne Elizabeth Geary Schmults (Ed) of Providence, RI (Sophie, Constance and Eddie). He is also survived by numerous cousins and nieces and nephews, all of whom showered him with love and kindness throughout his years.

Bill’s family extends their heartfelt thanks to Cerise Leonard. She supported and loved both Deanie and Bill in their final years. She brought them laughter and lifted them up in faith, and became indispensable to both of them. She was their cheerleader and guardian angel.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral mass in the Chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by the funeral mass at noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tulane Catholic, 1037 Audubon Street, New Orleans, LA 70118, or to the Dr. William Geary Fund at Ochsner Health. The latter donations may be mailed to The Ochsner Clinic Foundation, 1514 Jefferson Hwy, Suite BH 607, New Orleans, LA 70121 or may be made online at ochsner.org/william.