Raymond E. Geisser, O.S.A.

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. 

Lawrence J. Gerrity, O.S.A.

1906 – 1981 (March 27)

Lawrence Joseph Gerrity, son of William Gerrity and Catherine Katie Barrett, was bom in Centralia, Pennsylvania on November 23, 1906. Coming from a family of two sisters and three brothers, one of whom became a priest in the diocese of Harrisburg, Lawrence began his education in the grammar school of Saint Ignatius Parish, Centralia and was enrolled at Augustinian Academy, Grymes Hill, Staten Island, from 1926-1929. He was received into the Augustinian Order on September 10,1929, pronounced simple vows on September 11, 1930 and made solemn profession on September 11, 1933. Lawrence entered the professorium in 1930 and graduated from Villanova College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935. Following theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, DC, he was ordained to the priesthood at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception there on June 7, 1938.

Father Gerrity dedicated his entire ministry as a friar to serving our parishes in New York State. In 1939 he was assigned to Saint Paul Parish, Mechanicville; in 1945 he was transferred to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Jamaica, where he remained until 1951. That year he was appointed to Saint James Parish, Carthage,  and in 1957 to Immaculate Conception Parish, Hoosick Falls. In 1965, he was named prior and pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, Schaghticoke, where he remained for the next ten years. Here, in addition to his assiduous attention to all the duties of pastoral care he undertook an extensive renovation and redecoration of the entire parish plant.

In his retirement Father Gerrity returned to Hoosick Falls and the parish of the Immaculate Conception. In 1980, due to failing health he was assigned to Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova. By his persevering efforts Father Gerrity in his lifetime overcame numerous obstacles, while his obvious sincerity endeared him to the parishioners. An historical buff he delighted in assembling data on the early history of Hoosick Falls and the surrounding area. He was good to the people and they responded with an enduring affection.

Father Gerrity died on March 27, 1981, and is buried in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Anthony A. Gasparro, O.S.A.

1914 – 2002 (March 20)

Anthony Angelo Gasparro, son of Bernard and Rose Gasparro, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 7, 1914, and was baptized at St. Mary Magdalena de Pazzi Church, Philadelphia, the following May 28th. He received his primary education at Drexel School, Vare Jr. High School and Barrett Jr. High School before entering Augustinian Academy, on Staten Island, New York, as a sophomore postulant, in September, 1930. He began his novitiate year on September 9, 1933, made his simple profession on September 10, 1934 and was solemnly professed on September 10, 1937. He earned a BA degree from Villanova University in June, 1938, and pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1941 at the Shine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

Father Anthony exercised his priestly ministry in the Augustinian parishes of Holy Rosary, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Saint Rita, Philadelphia, Saint Mary in Vineland, New Jersey, Assumption/Saint Paul, Mechanicville, N.Y., Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Atlantic City, N.J., and Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Philadelphia. 

An accomplished artist in painting and porcelain, Father Gasparro was a member of the Fra Angelica Guild for Artists, an organization for Christian artists interested in portraying religious themes in their work. Throughout his ministries he was solicitous for the sick and elderly and instructed the young in the faith. 

On March 7, 2002, due to failing health, Father was transferred to the Health Care Unit of Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova, Pa., where he died two weeks later, on March 20th. Father Gasparro is buried in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.