Read the full online tribute from Geoff's family
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College community is mourning the passing of former men's lacrosse captain Geoff Geppert '15.
Geppert, a native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on August 18, 2017 as a result of injuries sustained in an accident at Taughannock Falls State Park in New York. An economics major at Haverford, he attended the University School prior to his undergraduate studies.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Geoff Geppert. He was one of those people you liked the moment you met him. He was an unselfish young man who exemplified everything we always look for in a Black Squirrel," said former men's lacrosse coach Colin Bathory '99. "His love for the game, his teammates, and friends could always be seen in the profound impact he had on those around him and how he inspired others both on and off the field. He will always remembered for his outstanding character, compassion, intelligence, and determination. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. The Haverford men's lacrosse community has heavy hearts today."
Excelling as a student-athlete, Geppert was named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll on multiple occasions while also being selected as an All-Centennial Conference midfielder during his senior season as he led the Fords in every major offensive statistic. Geppert's senior year also saw his Haverford College Class of 2015 teammates lead the recent resurgence of the men's lacrosse program. In addition to being elected a team captain during his senior season, he was part of the program's leadership council as an underclassman and a team representative for the program's many community service projects.
"Geoff was a great student, but he also stands out in our memory as having accomplished so much outside the classroom. He was interested and involved in everything: athletics, finance, politics, travel, etc.," said Haverford College Associate Professor of Economics David Owens. "Nonetheless, he never seemed overwhelmed, and was always pleasant, respectful and engaging. To many college students, their institution is the whole world. Geoff was the opposite. He seemed uniquely prepared, both intellectually and emotionally, for the world beyond Haverford, which makes his untimely passing especially tragic."
Owens continued by saying, "I remember a department meeting where we discussed which of us would advise his senior thesis. He wrote about predicting foreign exchange rates, a topic outside of all of our expertise. Meanwhile, he was trading foreign currencies in his spare time, and very successfully. We worried that his grasp of the topic would render us useless. I don't recall a similar discussion about another student."
During his time at Haverford College, Geppert was also active in the Bi-Co Finance Club, College Republicans, and Fords Invest Club. A budding entrepreneur during his time at Haverford, he began to trade foreign currency as an undergraduate student and carried that passion into his professional life by developing WavesAudio, an iOS app, along with an app for news and information related to trading bitcoins.
An avid traveler, Geppert spent the fall semester of his junior year at both the London School of Economics and Danish Institute for Study Abroad where his expertise in economics helped lead a team of student traders to victory in the Nordic Training Competition. Within the past year, he surfed in Malibu, snorkeled in Australia, sailed in Cancun, and sunbathed in Thailand. He had previously toured Europe with family and friends.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, August 26 at Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (3630 Quesada Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20015). The mass will begin at 11 a.m. with a reception lunch to follow at the Congressional Country Club (8500 River Road, Potomac, MD 20817).
The Geppert family requests that in lieu of flowers, remembrances or memorials may be made in Geoff's name to Camp Tecumseh, University School, or Haverford College Athletics. If you are interested in donating to Haverford College Athletics, you may do so through the "Friends of Haverford Athletics" in Memory of Geoff Geppert '15.
A Memorial Meeting for Worship will be held at Haverford College on Saturday, September 16 at 10 a.m.