Leo P. Geary

Brigadier General Leo Paul Geary (Retired) passed March 23, 2009 in Boston, MA. He was born in Boston, October 13, 1917. After graduating from Tufts University in 1940 with a degree in chemistry, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in December 1941. He married Celia K. Anderson in March 1942 and had two daughters. Celia died in 1996 and he later married Catherine McMahon. General Geary's early military assignments included flying as B-24 pilot in World War II. He also served as an intelligence staff officer at the Pentagon from 1954 to 1966. During that assignment, he was program director for SR-71/YF-12A programs as well as assistant for reconnaissance, Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development. In the 1960s, he was responsible for retrieving Gary Powers after he was shot down during the U2 reconnaissance. Subsequently, General Geary served as deputy commander, San Antonio Air Materiel Area, Air Force Logistics Command, at Kelly Air Force Base, TX and remained in that position until his reassignment as defense attaché, Pakistan, in September 1967. As defense attaché he was the representative of the U.S. Secretary of Defense in Pakistan. He retired from the Air Force in 1970 and resided in Denver, CO. After his marriage to Catherine, he spent summers in Martha's Vineyard, MA. During his retirement in Denver, he was active in philanthropic activities and in 1988 was president of the Kiwanis Club of South Denver. General Geary is survived by daughters, Christine K. Geary Himchak, Williamsburg, VA and Judith A. Geary, Denver, CO; three grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by his second wife Catherine M. Geary; her children, Jill Mees, Centennial, CO, Cindy Clancy, Wayland, MA, and Thomas McMahon, Lynn, MA and their children. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 3, 2009 at 10:00 am at Church of the Risen Christ, 3060 South Monaco Parkway, in Denver. Burial follows at 1:30 pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Pavilion ""B"", 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, in Denver. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the South Denver Kiwanis Foundation, Box 101405, Denver, CO 80250-1405; or the Colorado Special Olympics, 410 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202. Please share your memories of Mr. Geary and condolences with his family by selecting the ""sign guestbook"" button below.