Tireless champion for veterans Terry Geiling dies at 83

Terry Geiling, a Long Beach community leader and champion for military families needing support at the VA's Gold Star Manor and Fisher House Southern California, has died. He was 83.

Geiling, the former CEO for the Gold Star Manor, died Saturday, a week after falling outside his home.

“Terry suffered a serious cervical spine injury as the result of a fall,” the family said in a statement, “and did not regain consciousness after surgery.”

Nancy Geiling, his wife of 59 years, said in an interview Monday that her husband fell July 23 while tending to vegetables and flowers in his beloved garden in the front of their Belmont Heights home.

“He had a remarkable life that just ended too quickly,” she said. A celebration of his life will be held later, she said.

Accolades on Terry Geiling's remarkable life came pouring in from public officials and friends as word spread of his death.

“Terry was such an important member of the community, helping so many people in a variety of organizations,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “He leaves an enormous and incredible legacy.”

Don Knabe, a former Los Angeles County supervisor, said he was shocked by Geiling's death.

“Terry improved the lives of so many people who had grief in their hearts with the loss of loved ones,” Knabe said. “I was working with him on expanding Fisher House in the Camp Pendleton area.”

Alfredo Velasco, president of the Long Beach Rotary Club, called Terry Geiling “a Long Beach tour de force. He was an amazing human being who couldn't say no when helping other people.”

Terry Geiling served as Rotary president from 2006-07

He connected Velasco with a Long Beach polio project in Mexico as part of Rotary's goal to eradicate the disease worldwide, the current president said.

David H. Berger, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, who worked with Terry Geiling on many issues involving military families, called the community leader “a persistent, determined fighter focusing on caring for those unable to care for themselves. He was a champion for the little people. We could use more Terry Geilings in this world of ours.”

During his time as president and CEO of Long Beach's Gold Star Manor from 2009 to 2020, Terry Geiling oversaw completion of a major, $55 million renovation project of 348 apartments, which were badly in need of an overhaul.

The Gold Star Manor provides support and housing for seniors with ties to the military and mothers whose children died while serving in the armed forces.

When he got the job at the manor, the organization was one of the best-kept secrets in Long Beach, a little-known nonprofit that was not doing well financially. The manor's site at 3021 Gold Star Drive, on Long Beach's west side, was once used as a military barracks before being bought by American Gold Star Mothers in 1975; it initially served as affordable housing for seniors.

Gold Star Mothers formed after World War I when families hung gold stars in their windows to honor men and women killed in the war.

Terry Geiling came in, formed partnerships with many organizations, developed a financial plan and built the manor into a nationally recognized housing facility for veterans and families.