Roanoke Rapids youth coach and former Chaloner Middle & High school coach Chad Geary lost his three year battle to cancer Monday night

Geary once taught Social Studies at Northamton-West High in Gaston and coached the varsity baseball Hurricanes for several years. He then moved his teaching skills to Chaloner Middle and eventually moved on to Roanoke Rapids High. While at Chaloner he was also head coach for the baseball team for several season and also eventually moving on to be the head JV baseball coach at the high school under varsity head coach Mark Snead. Geary also was the high school JV football head coach for several years under varsity head coach Russell Weinstein.
 
Also for the past several years, Geary has helped coach his son Austin's baseball and football teams (Cal Ripkin baseball, Yellow Jacket youth football and the Roanoke Valley Fishers travel baseball).
 
Geary gave up coaching Prep sports to pursue a school administrative degree and was hired this past summer in an administrative role at RRHS as Dean of Student Support.
 

Chad Lawrence Geary, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2015. 

He is the son of late Andrew Lawrence and Beverly Geary.
 
Chad was a long time teacher with Roanoke Rapids City Schools and most recently his position was Learning Facilitator.  He was also a former coach with Roanoke Rapids High School baseball & Chaloner Middle baseball.  He coached his son’s summer baseball league and his travel team, “The Fishers”.
 
He is survived by his wife, Heidi Lynn Geary; their son, Austin Geary and their daughter, Addison Geary of the home; his brother, Ryan Geary, Sr. of Uniontown, PA; his sisters, Missy Geary of Ohiopyle, PA, Courtney Pavlicko and her husband, John of New Salem, PA; his step mother, Louise Geary of Uniontown, PA; his mother and father in law, Jack and Donna Gates of Danville, PA; his sister in law, Nikki Snead and her husband, Mark of Roanoke Rapids; his brother in law, Michael Stensen and his wife, Tammy of Farmington, PA; his niece, Taylor Geary; his nephews, Ryan Geary, Jr., Drew Geary, and Broady Pavlicko;  and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
 
Funeral services with Military Rites will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 4:00 PM at Rosemary United Methodist Church in Roanoke Rapids with Rev. Bob Redmond officiating.
 
Visitation will be at Askew Funeral and Cremation Services on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM and from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
 
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a memorial fund for Austin and Addison through State Employees’ Credit Union by contacting the Roanoke Rapids branch at 252-537-0019.
 
Online condolences may be made to www.askewfs.com

Below is a letter from Fisher head coach Ed Liverman to their team the Fishers

FISHERS-
 
It is with great sadness that I send you all this message about the passing of our coach, friend and brother Chad Geary.  By now I'm sure most of you have heard the sad news.  Let me first say, I am beyond sad and hurt and broken.  I miss Chad more than words can describe and I absolutely ache for Heidi and her loss.  I hate what Austin and his friends have had to endure in such a difficult time.  They are far too young to feel this pain.  I detest that Addison will not fully know the love that her Daddy had for her precious heart.  But with all this brokenness and heartache, I know that there is peace and mercy through our faith.  I do rejoice in the comfort that Chad no longer is trapped in his sickness.  I rejoice that Chad is in the arms of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  I rejoice in the fact that because we believe that Christ Jesus renews us and saves us, one day we will see our friend again in the most glorious of settings.
 
Chad was instrumental in helping me start the team that has evolved to "our" team today.  He had a passion for the game and for the kids and brought so much to the table as a coach.  We'd laugh sometimes as he would bring a high school coaching mentality to a 7 year old group of kids!  We just strived to teach our boys as much as we could about the game.  He was hard on Austin and I on Davis.  It's simply what Dad/Coaches do and it's done out of love, love of the game and love for our children.  We quickly learned that I would have to be Austin's "rebuilder" on the ball field.  And in return he did the same for Davis.  I can't tell you how many times that Chad and Davis would have conversations about "only God knows what" on Davis' way back to the dugout.  It would build Davis up and I know that Davis misses those talks of encouragement so much.  Chad was indeed a terrific coach and mentor to all the boys.  He loved each one of them dearly and teaching them baseball and life lessons meant so much to him.  I believe we all already miss our coach.
 
I was so fortunate to have quality conversations about life with Chad "off the field".  Whether it was around a grill, back yard fire or hunting camp Chad would always engage in conversation.  And boy could Chad "converse"!  I will miss saving the world's problems with Chad.  It just seemed that as the fires would die down and turn to ash, the world always seemed to be a much better place.  Chad made our world more interesting.  His friendship will be missed by many.   I certainly already miss my friend. 
 
Many of you may or may not know that I have a younger brother.  Because of life's difficulties and fate, I just don't see him or talk with him much.  Chad assumed this role as my true brother.  We were convinced that our paths crossed because we needed to be "brothers" for each other.  Being "brothers" was not always easy, as being "family" not always is.  But being "family" allows us to never give up on one another.  My mother taught me that "giving" was the greatest gift a person ever receives.  Whatever I was able to "give" Chad, I received back ten fold.  His friendship was beyond measure.  I already miss my brother more than words can describe. 
 
So, in closing I can honestly say that Chad made our team, our world,our "family" better.  While we miss him and his earthly presence, he is in heaven now.  Praise God for this and that we can be with him when the day comes.  I invite you all to help Austin, Addison and Heidi through this tough time.  We can help them in all the ways that Chad helped us, by being mentor, friend and "family".  Chad, indeed was a "FISHER" and now it is our turn to put our nets down and follow Christ.  It is indeed our turn to be the hands and feet of Christ and walk with and comfort this beautiful family, our "family".   You see that's what being a "FISHER" is. 
 
Until I see you all again God bless! 
 
-Ed Liverman