Evelyn Dwyer Geis

Celebrated Life Actively

Evelyn Dwyer Geis, 92, a longtime Westport resident, died June 21 at Danbury Hospital. For several months, Mrs Geis had been under the care of the Ashlar of Newtown Masonic Health Care Facility in Newtown.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Kerry S. Perran of Newtown; her daughter, Gaila Ozaki Perran of Westport; and two great-grandchildren, Zachary R. Clyne and Jameson Dubret Davis of Newtown.

Mrs Geis, widow of Paul C. Geis, Chicago, moved to Westport 31 years ago. Born in Springfield, Ill., Mrs Geis spent most of her secretarial career years in Chicago including many years of service at Time, Inc. Following retirement, Mrs. Geis relocated to Westport, where she worked as a private secretary to community notables Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen and Francesca Lodge.

Highlights of her work career were as assistant for Lucille Ball during her years at Desilu Productions, Hollywood, Calif., and an encounter with her heart’s delight, Frank Sinatra, while she was assisting with the production of the 1956 Academy Awards Presentations in Hollywood.

Over the course of her life, Mrs Geis enjoyed sailing Lake Geneva, Wis., social ballroom dancing, painting in oil, charcoal drawing, art photography, gardening, music of all kinds, the writing of song parodies, and anecdotal articles for magazines and newspapers. She assisted mystery writer Milton K. Ozaki with his earliest novels, and 50 years later assisted her daughter with the writing of a mystery novel.

A Memorial Mass for Mrs Geis will be celebrated at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Newtown, on Friday, July 7, at 7 pm, followed by a private celebration of her life.

Mrs Geis would be pleased if donations in her name could be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123-1718.

The Newtown Bee        June 30, 2006