Dear 1997 Classmates,
It is with great sadness that I report the death of Kyleigh Geissler on December 14, 2007. We do not have much detailed information about Kyleigh's death but we do know she passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Brewster, MA.
Kyleigh suffered paralysis due to spinal cord injury when she was in a serious car accident in March of 2001, but she rallied and continued with her veterinary residency, achieving many honors. Kyleigh is survived by family and friends. Read Keleigh's Obituary.*
We are not Kyleigh's biological family but as a Wellesley sister, she will live on in our memories and we mourn her death at such a young age. I am sure her Wellesley friends will miss her very much. Anna Kwan, our Class President, sent a card to Kyleigh's family on behalf of our entire class. If you wish to express your condolences personally, you can sign a guest book* Kyleigh's family set up online. Also consider making a donation to Kyleigh Anne Geissler Memorial Scholarship at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Rd., North Grafton, MA 01536.
To pay tribute to Kyleigh, we encourage all those who knew her to submit photographs, stories, and anecdotes from her Wellesley years and more recently. Send these to Anna or me. We will post these memories on our website to share with our classmates. We hope to hear from many of you.
Respectfully,
Kasia Piech Kordas
1997 Class Secretary
Published obituary in the Boston Globe on 12/18/2007.
Kyleigh Anne Mahard Geissler 32, died peacefully in Brewster at home in her sleep on Friday, December 14, 2007 after living long and courageously with a spinal cord injury. After graduating Valedictorian from Nauset Regional High School 1993, Kyleigh graduated Summa Cum Laude Wellesley College 1997 with the Lucy Branch Allen Prize. She earned her DVM at Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of V'01 with the Excellence in Small Animal Surgery Award. Even after being paralyzed in an automobile accident in March 2001, Kyleigh undertook her Residency at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and received her Anatomic Pathology degree in 2005. In June 2005, Kyleigh began a graduate fellowship in Comparative Pathology at Wake Forest University. Simultaneously, passing her board exams on the first try, Dr. Geissler became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Other achievements of note include the Glastonbury Literary Award at the age of 10, Greater Hartford Youth Symphony Bassoonist at age 14 and Wellesley College Chamber Music Ensemble President. Many friends and family benefited from her hobby of knitting. Kyleigh's spirit lives on in her sisters LindseyRuth Geissler, Jaime Erin and husband John Fair, Katie Geissler and fiance Kyle Halvorsen, and cousin Darcy Krzynowek. Kyleigh is also survived by her mother Joyce Laming Geissler, grandmother Virginia Mahard Laming Pfanuef, Auntie Judi and Uncle Teddy Krzynowek and father Donald James Geissler and family, and also many friends and colleagues. A Gathering of Friends, Family and Memories will be held on Wednesday, December 19th from 5-8 pm at the Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Parkway, ORLEANS, MA. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Kyleigh Anne Geissler Memorial Scholarship, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536.
*If you're having problems with the links, both the obituary and the guest book can be accessed directly from the Boston Globe online, www.boston.com.