Senate Resolution No. 1922

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

        MOURNING   the   death   of   Herbert  F.  Geller,
        distinguished veteran, and  devoted  member  of  his
        community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life  in  their  communities  and  this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  Herbert  F.  Geller  of  North  Salem,  New  York, died on
Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the age of 102; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert F. Geller distinguished himself in  his  profession
and  by  his  sincere  dedication  and  substantial  contribution to the
welfare of his community; and

  WHEREAS, Born on December 9,  1921,  to  the  late  Samuel  and  May
Geller, Herbert F. Geller was a first-generation Jewish American; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert F. Geller joined the Signal Corps and the Committee
to  Defend America by Aiding the Allies; when Pearl Harbor was attacked,
he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he  went  on  to  train  as  a  radio
repairman  at  Camp Crowder in Missouri and then was assigned to the new
Army Air Corps and deployed to England; and

  WHEREAS,  After  the  war  ended,  he  manned  a  radio   tower   in
ally-occupied  Germany;  Herbert  F. Geller rose to the esteemed rank of
Corporal and was honorably discharged in 1946; and

  WHEREAS, Upon his discharge from the United States military, Herbert
F.  Geller went on to study journalism  at  Long  Island  University  in
Brooklyn  and  the University of Wisconsin-Madison, ultimately receiving
his bachelor's degree; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert F. Geller married the  love  of  his  life,  Gloria
Feldman, on October 7, 1956; and

  WHEREAS,  Following a move to Mt. Kisco, New York, Herbert F. Geller
worked as a patent trader, then later became a writer and editor for the
Bridgeport Post where he was nominated for  a  Pulitzer  Prize  for  his
series on the bicentennial; and

  WHEREAS, Further demonstrating his innate skill for writing, Herbert
F.  Geller  also  enjoyed being a playwright, and wrote the musical "Who
Built the World," about the struggles of Irish immigrants; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert F. Geller was a leader of the North Salem  American
Legion and was heavily involved in Westchester County and local politics
throughout  his  life,  often  campaigning  for causes and candidates he
believed in; and

  WHEREAS,  Active  in  his  community,  Herbert  F.  Geller  was  the
president  of his neighborhood's Candlewood Lake Association for over 20

years, and led the Memorial Day Parade  for  North  Salem  for  over  30
years; and

  WHEREAS,  Herbert  F.  Geller  was  inducted into the New York State
Veterans Hall of Fame in 2011 for his dedicated service  to  the  United
States Armed Forces; and

  WHEREAS,  Herbert  F.  Geller's  commitment  to  excellence, and his
spirit  of  humanity,  carried  over  into  all  fields  of  enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and

  WHEREAS,  Herbert  F.  Geller is survived by his daughters, JeriAnn,
Sharon,  and  Nisa;  his  sons-in-law,  Dr.  William  Zinn  and  Jeffrey
Tannenbaum;  his  grandchildren,  Ariel, Grant, Benji, Isabella, Oriana,
Joseph  and  Samuel;  his   grandson-in-law,   Ben   Starkweather;   his
great-grandson,  Gabriel  Starkweather;  eight nieces and nephews; eight
great-nieces and nephews; and his beloved caretakers, Minerva  Rodriguez
and Dora, Flory, and Margarita Morales; and

  WHEREAS,  Herbert  F. Geller was predeceased by his wife, Gloria and
his sister, Erna Beth Drucker; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion,  Herbert  F.  Geller  leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn the death of Herbert F. Geller; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Herbert F. Geller.