Klaus Geiger as an Explorer

Klaus Wilhelm Geiger: April 26, 1921 to January 23, 2013
–
Rest in Peace

I would like to tell you about my father’s life as an explorer and discoverer. Born in Berlin, and as his father was the renowned scientist Prof Dr Hans Geiger, as a youngster he moved several times, living in Tübingen, Kiel, and Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin. It was there he graduated from Hermann von Helmholtz Gymnasium, as upper schools are known in Germany. He often talked to me about his love for learning and exploring Latin and Greek as well as the sciences.

Like all young men who were healthy he was drawn into the Second World War and explored Northern Africa, Sicily and Italy. All his life he had a love for Italy and the Italian language. He later took night school Italian lessons and went back to rediscover Italy several times.

Towards the end of the war he met his wife to be Charlotte and although he seldom talked about it, they surely explored the joys of romance. In 1946/47 they moved to France where he studied science at the University of Paris and they married there in July1947, far from family. Then it was back to Germany exploring science and radioactivity, receiving his Doctorate in sciences in 1951 from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. Bernie was born during that time and Klaus began exploring the joys of family life.

In 1952 came the adventure of a lifetime when the three of us journeyed on the Cunard ship Scythia, sailed to Montreal and arrived by train to Ottawa where he had been invited to explore the phenomenon of cosmic rays at the National Research Council as a post-doctorate fellow. What an exciting time that must have been. The opportunity to discover a new city, the Gatineau’s and to go camping in northern New York State, Ontario and Quebec.

A few years later we moved to Manor Park where we had many friends like Dr. Neil and Barbra Steenberg and I had playmates like Patty. Expanding our family, my brother Thomas came along and in 1957 we explored the new Campeau suburb of Elmvale Acres on Chapman Blvd, with its mud, clay, ditches and gravel sidewalks. Gardening, fencing, the back patio and finishing the basement recreation room were significant accomplishments!

Klaus loved the trails and vistas of Ottawa and Gatineau Park and explored them by hiking and skiing, as well as the parkways. Favourites were the Rideau Canal and locks, Lac Philippe, Camp Fortune, the picnic grounds, lookouts and of course the ruins of Mackenzie King Estate in the fall leaves. Every Spring meant a trip to explore the daffodils of Rockliffe Park. The next decade we explored the West with several car camping trips to Alberta, Yellowstone park, BC and even California. At Easter we either visited friends in New Jersey and explored New York City or drive to Florida on whirlwind trips! In the 60’s we rented cottages in Deep River and Mte Ste Marie and explored the lakes and nature there. In 1969 we purchased our beloved cottage lot on Otty Lake and Klaus studied the vagaries of plumbing and electrical work and installed those utilities into our brand new cottage, while exploring the surrounding nature, Lanark County and Perth.

The late 70’s brought more exploration with grandchildren, trips all over Europe and North America, plus a sabbatical year back in Germany. Retirement from a long and successful career at the NRC did not stop Klaus and Charlotte and they continued to explore with ocean cruises in Hawaii and travel elsewhere in the world. They often took their three grandchildren Alia, Mike and Stef off to the Bonnechere Caves, Upper Canada Village, Renfrew’s Storyland, and the cottage in spring and summer. The Smiths Falls Railway Museum was a favourite, even if it once ended in a few stitches for Stefan at the nearby hospital.

Sadly Charlotte passed away suddenly at the cottage in 1999 and Klaus was left as a bachelor after more than 50 years of marriage. That meant strengthening friendships with relatives in Germany and old Potsdam classmates. He undertook many adventures including making acquaintance with his great-granddaughter Samara who is here today.

Even in declining health Klaus loved to explore, whether the tulip beds of Dows Lake, the quiet streets behind Carlingview Manor, or more recently, we toured Mooney’s Bay Park across from St. Patrick’s Home on Riverside.

So today we are gathered together to remember Klaus’s many adventures even as he has embarked on one more.