1925 – 2010 (April 6)

Raymond Edwin Geisser was born on February 1, 1925, in Riverside, Rhode Island, one of two sons and one daughter of George J. Geisser and Madelyn M. Grady. He was baptized on February 22, 1925, at Saint Brendan's Church, Riverside, R.I. He attended Arthur E. Pratt School and Riverside Junior High School, both in Riverside, R.I., and then East Providence High School, East Providence, R.I. Upon graduation in 1943, he was inducted into the US Army, served in Europe as an Army scout, was part of the D-Day 1944 invasion, and was discharged in April 1946. From 1946 to 1948, he studied at Rhode Island State College and obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He then moved to the Los Angeles area and pursued an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California between 1948 and 1950. He came into contact with the Augustinians at Our Mother of Good Counsel, Hollywood, while working as an aircraft engineer. In 1954, he applied to the Order and was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1954. After completing his novitiate experience at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed first vows on September 10, 1955. From 1955 to 1957 he completed his studies in Philosophy at Villanova University, and then went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, for his theological studies, from 1957 to 1961. At the same time he studied Mathematics at the Catholic University of America during the summers between 1957 and 1960. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1958, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1960 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC, by Bishop John McNamara.

Father Geisser's first assignment was to St. Thomas Monastery and Villanova University, where he worked as Assistant Director of Admissions and taught theology for five years, and engineering for one year. In 1966, he was assigned to Casa San Lorenzo and Biscayne College, where he lived and worked until 2000, as Director of Admissions and Registrar, teacher and student advisor.

Father Ray was assigned to Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova, in 2000, due to failing health. He passed over to the Lord on Tuesday morning, April 6, 2010. Fr. Ray was well known and loved by students, faculty and staff for his many years of service at Biscayne College. He was 85 years old at the time of his death.