J. Robert Geiman Sr. 1931-2024
J. Robert “Bob” Geiman, Sr., 93, of Vero Beach, FL and formerly of Wilmette, IL and Chicago, IL, passed away on September 5, 2024. Beloved husband of the late Ann Fitzgerald Geiman; loving father of J. Robert “Bob” (Sara) Geiman, Jr., William Patrick Geiman and Timothy Michael (Allison) Geiman; proud grandfather of J. Robert “Bobby” Geiman III, Sophia Suzann Geiman and Luke Michael Geiman; and caring brother of the late Nancy Lou Pope. In accordance with Bob’s wishes, private services were held at Saints Faith, Hope and Charity in Winnetka, IL. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA would be appreciated.
Bob was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1931, to his father Louis H. Geiman and his mother Nancy O'Connell-Crowe. Inspired to a career in the law by both his father and his uncle, Robert E. Crow, Bob first obtained a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University in 1953 and went on to earn a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Notre Dame in 1956. While at Notre Dame, he served as a Case Editor for the Notre Dame Law Review. In 1956, Bob was admitted to the Illinois State Bar and has been admitted to practice by the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as by five Federal District courts. Furthermore, he was a certified arbitrator of the American Arbitration Association.
With over six decades of professional experience to his credit, Bob was an accomplished trial lawyer who had acted Of Counsel for the Chicago law firm Peterson & Ross since 1996, having previously been a partner from 1970 to 1996. Earlier in his career, he served as a Partner with Peterson, Lowry, Rall, Barber & Ross from 1964 to 1970, and as an Associate with Eckert, Peterson & Lowry from 1956 to 1964. Furthermore, Bob was the former General Counsel of the American Service Bureau.
Alongside his primary career responsibilities, Bob was active in a number of professional organizations. Bob was Secretary and a Member of the Board of Governors for the Illinois State Bar Association from 1969 to 1979, and was the Vice Chair of the Membership Committee and a Member of the Meetings Committee for the 7th Circuit Federal Bar Association between 1968 and 1975. During this time, he was also on the Aviation Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association from 1970 to 1973; was a member of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section and the Aviation Committee for the American Bar Association from 1980 to 1990; served on the Board of Governors for the Catholic Lawyers Guild of
Chicago from 1973 to 1996; and served as a member of the Committee on Civil Jury Instructions for the Illinois Supreme Court between 1979 and 1981. He was a member of the Society of Trial Lawyers, The Legal Club of Chicago, The Law Club of Chicago and the Notre Dame Club of Chicago where he served on the Board of Directors from 1957 to 1960.
For excellence in his career, Bob was the recipient of a number of honors and accolades. He was recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Additionally, Bob was an accomplished author and his work has notably appeared in two volumes of The Trial Lawyer's Guide. Notable in his field for having tried a number of high-profile aviation and life insurance cases, Bob, or “Fighting Bob” as he was known within his firm, will be remembered by his peers as a fair, decent and honest trial lawyer with an uncanny ability to remember the smallest of details that made him a particularly effective cross examiner. Bob will also be remembered as a great teacher and mentor to many aspiring trial attorneys that were fortunate to cross his path. Finally, Bob will be remembered as much for his achievements as for always doing it the right way which was the foundation of his character and integrity.
Donating his time civically as well, Bob was member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Athletic Association from 1969 to 1973, while serving in a number of executive positions over the years, notably the President of the Club in 1973. He further spent over two decades on the Board of Advisors for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1973 to 1996. He was a past member of the Exmoor Country Club, the Mid- America Club, and the Michigan Shores Club in the Chicagoland area, and the Grand Harbor Club and Quail Valley Club in Vero Beach, FL. Despite these accomplishments, what was most important to Bob was his family. Bob lived for his family and always put his family first. And his family knew it. Bob was devoted husband to his wife Ann for 33 years until her death. He had a uniquely special relationship with each of his sons who all knew that his love was unconditional, and was fortunate to live long enough to get to know his grandkids who he was so proud of. Bob was patient, understanding, forgiving, and loving. He prioritized education and attending his kids’ school events and sporting events, even when he was preparing for a trial. Bob loved going to the country clubs with his family on the weekends and scuba diving with his family in the Caribbean,particularly the Cayman Islands. He was a devoted fan of Notre Dame football, sticking with the team through thick and thin. After retiring, Bob loved hosting his kids and grandkids at his home in Florida. Bob was the Rock and the Patriarch of the family. He will be loved, honored and cherished for the years to come by those he left behind.