Warren man has strong ties to faith, nature
Warren man has strong ties to faith, nature
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Over the past six years, I have been deeply blessed to know a man many remember as the friendly, welcoming face behind the post office counter.
Although I have only known him for a short time during his retirement, the friendship I found in both Rich and his wife, Dorothy, instantly became one in which I will forever treasure. To catch a glimpse into Rich’s life is to understand the profound impact of simple kindness -- a grace easily seen in his gentle face, his warm eyes, and his steady character. Truly, to know him is to love him.
Rich has a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued and special, no matter who you are or where you happen to run into him -- whether it's greeting him at church or visiting him at his home. That natural connection with the community is woven into who he is.
For 31 years, Rich brought that same care to his work at the post office before retiring from the Warren office in 2017. His postal roots still run deep; when we were recently discussing my hometown, he immediately asked for the ZIP code so he could better connect with the place I was describing.
Born in Kane in June 1956, Rich was raised on a family farm in Mount Jewett. Growing up in a massive household as the eighth of 13 children, family was always at the center of his life. In fact, he still embraces his place in the family lineup today with a clever nod on the road -- his car's license plate reads "Eighth Geer."
After graduating with the Kane High School class of 1974, Rich carried the lessons of his upbringing with him; those formative years on the farm deeply shaped his gentle spirit and lifelong love for nature.
Straight out of high school, Rich enlisted in the Army and became a paratrooper with the 57th Airborne Detachment based in Germany. A climbing accident unfortunately brought a medical retirement, prompting him to return to Pennsylvania to study plumbing and heating in Williamsport.
Upon graduating, he sent his resume out and moved to Colorado for a new job opportunity, where he later pivoted by going back to school for respiratory therapy. Rich eventually returned east to Long Island to study at Christ For The Nations Institute of Biblical Studies. This is where he met his wife, Dorothy, who always brings a laugh upon introducing herself as being married to Richard Geer by adding, "Not the actor -- my husband is cuter." The two will celebrate 40 years of marriage next month.
Rich and Dorothy spent 16 years living in Mount Jewett, near much of his extended family. Together, they raised three children in a home centered on faith, with both of them remaining deeply active in their church.
Professionally, Rich dedicated his time to helping others as a respiratory therapist, split between the Kane Community Hospital and Warren General Hospital. Eventually, he transitioned into a new career path with the postal service, starting out at the post office in Kane before transferring to Bradford, and ultimately, to Warren. In 2003, their decision to permanently relocate to Warren was truly driven by the deep love they discovered for the people of Warren, especially after finding their spiritual home at Praise Fellowship Church. Rich served as a church elder for seven years, and remains a faithful, highly respected pillar of the congregation to this day.
Playing the guitar from an early age, Rich has also been inspired to write songs and stories over the years. He was discovered by the Warren County Historical Society and participated in events they held as well as a few Fourth of July parade floats with reenactors. In addition, he served as a co-chairman of "An Evening on the Allegheny" which was a fundraiser for the House of Hope in 2013.
Some of his writings have been published twice by Reiman Publication House. When reading through Down Home Country Wisdom, a charming collection of Rich's lighthearted poems and songs, a clear thread immediately emerges: his profound devotion to God, family, country, and the place he calls home.
This deep connection to the local region beautifully echoes in his historical folk music. Rich has dedicated his musical talents to capturing local heritage, writing songs about General Joseph Warren, the Allegheny River, and the Kinzua Dam and Kinzua Bridge. One piece in particular, “A Picture of Life in Warren, Pennsylvania,” perfectly reflects the warm, observant spirit he brings to documenting the life and history around him.
A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease hasn't slowed Rich down; he remains a familiar, active face at the YMCA, determined to live the best life he possibly can. Faith continues to guide his creativity, and he shares that his music today is beautifully shaped by Scripture. As our visit drew to a close, he gifted me with the privilege of hearing him play his guitar and sing the first Christian song he ever penned, titled "Heavenly Places."
The lyrics bring forth the quiet comfort of heavenly places and a peace that passes all understanding. That same profound peace is evident in the graceful way Rich lives out his days, honoring God with every step.