St. Mary's Church in Manhasset was filled with grieving friends and relatives on Monday, Aug. 21, as they came to say a last goodbye to William F. X. Geoghan Jr. Bill Geoghan had been an active participant in many causes, philanthropic, religious and educational over his years in Manhasset. In 1997 he was honored by the Manhasset Community Fund as its Man of the Year. Seven priests, led by Rev. Joseph Towle, S.J, concelebrated the funeral Mass. In his eulogy Father Towle captured the spirit of Bill Geoghan, "a true liberal," deeply spiritual and concerned for others and an unfailing optimist. Monsignor John J. Wiest, Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary's and one of the concelebrants, called Bill "one of the great human beings I knew. He always had an encouraging word for others, not only doing things himself, but encouraging others to do them."

Bill Geoghan was born in Brooklyn and attended parochial school and Brooklyn Prep there. He was graduated from Georgetown University and had completed one year of Fordham Law School when World War II interrupted his career. A member of the ROTC, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry and served most of the war training MPs. While stationed in St. Augustine, FL, he met his future wife, Celeste, a Florida native. After the war he and Celeste returned to Brooklyn and Bill completed law school at Fordham. He always knew he wanted to be a trial lawyer and joined a law firm specializing in personal injury cases. He had an outstanding career in that field, winning many cases as David against such Goliaths as General Motors. He became an adjunct professor of law at St. John's Law School in 1971.

When the Geoghans first moved to Manhasset in 1955, Bill's involvement was with St. Mary's R.C. parish. He ran the parish census and served as president of the Parent Teacher Council. His service at St. Mary's continued throughout his life and, until shortly before his death, he was a eucharistic minister and lLector. From 1958 through 1965 he served on the Manhasset Board of Education. He was on the board during the time when the Valley School was closed and the consequent integration of the other elementary schools was a hot issue. It called for all his negotiating skills and he remained proud of the way the Manhasset schools handled it. As a result of his involvement, the Economic Opportunity Commission gave Bill the Martin Luther King award. Other areas of service included acting as president of the Manhasset Community Fund, president of the Manhasset Student Aid Association and member of the board of directors of the Manhasset Youth Council.

Since 1990 he added support for people with AIDS to his area of interest. He became a member of the Long Island AIDS Council that year and took a yearlong course to become a pastoral counselor (lay chaplain), a one-on-one counselor to people with AIDS. His most recent project was helping with the formation of a committee of lawyers in St. Mary's parish who serve as counsels to people who cannot afford legal representation.

Bill's wife, Celeste, died in March of 1995. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Celeste Walters, his sons, William F. X. III, Theodore J. and James A. Geoghan; seven grandchildren and by his sister, Helen G. Geoghan. Donations in his name may be made to Mercy Hospice, 1220 Front Street, Uniondale, NY 11553.