After a lifetime of learning, teaching, caring, mentoring and loving, Lynn Elizabeth Cronin Simek Geer went to her rest on September 27, 2023 and left a legacy of education and long-lasting connections with so many who knew her.

Lynn was born on October 25, 1940 in Johnstown, New York to the late Ralph and Helen Doyle Cronin. During her childhood, Lynn spent about one year living in Ireland. In 1958, she graduated from Johnstown High School, New York and earned her BA in 1962 at St. Rose College in Albany, NY. At the College of St. Rose, she felt drawn to follow Teresa of Avila, intending to become a Carmelite nun, but instead found her calling teaching high school Latin in both public and private schools. Lynn later earned a Master’s degree in Education from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.

Throughout her life, Lynn held a strong faith and felt spiritual connection to the teachings and work of the Benedictine Brothers of the Weston Priory in Weston, VT. She had many visits to the Priory, a place where she felt grounded with its beauty, simplicity and love.

Lynn held many teaching positions through her adult life and in each place, her knowledge of the material, her energy and enthusiasm fueled a passion for learning in her students. Lynn primarily taught Latin to middle school and high school students with a few years providing employee training at American Express in Greensboro, NC. Her teaching positions included Vincentian Institute (NY-student teaching) the Estee Junior High School (NY), St. Agnes School (NY), Doane Stuart School (NY), High Point Middle Schools (NC) and Western Guilford High School (NC).

Lynn was a member of the Cum Laude Society and in 1974 co-created the film, “The Flight of Icarus”. During her Latin classes, Lynn planned “Saturnalia” Feasts for her students which allowed them to learn more about Ancient Roman culture and appreciate her culinary skills! She taught “experientially”, with her students learning by doing as they put on plays, created pottery, raced homemade “chariots” and traveled. Her classes consistently scored high on the National Latin Exam, and she always strived to find ways to improve the curriculum and teaching methods. In 2002 she received the prestigious Coca-Cola Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award, and in 2004 was named the Guilford County (NC) Schools High School Teacher of the Year.

Lynn and her first husband, David Simek, were parents to twin girls, Elaine Simek Kusel and Mari Simek. They lived in a historic home in a rural area of NY. Mari was deaf from birth and her serious illness required Lynn to spend much of her life trying to balance medical appointments including specialists in various cities, with the needs of each family member, long commutes to work often in harsh winter weather, her teaching responsibilities and care for their home. These pressures took their toll on Lynn.

Following Mari’s passing, the loss of both parents and her divorce all in 1982, Lynn entered a very difficult period. She relocated to Greensboro, NC to reframe her life and with the help of AA meetings, she achieved sobriety. Greensboro was somewhat familiar because she had helped a NY student apply to and settle at Guilford College. After resuming her teaching career in Greensboro, Lynn found peace again and in 2001, reconnected with a former NY colleague, musician Tom Geer. Tom and Lynn married in 2001 in a lovely service in their Greensboro home.

While teaching, Lynn began tutoring students for the SAT and ACT. She worked with many as a college counselor, reviewing essays and applications. In Lynn’s typical way, she had a significant and positive impact on her students guiding and supporting them as they made decisions about their future. Students often re-connected with her for guidance during their post high school years as she went from being their teacher & counselor to their friend.

In 2006, Lynn retired from teaching in a traditional school and shifted to providing very effective and highly sought after SAT tutoring and college counseling services for students in her home. While these services started as an extension of her teaching, they became a full-time tutoring & college counseling business called Via Vitae (The Path of Life) for which Lynn hired other Math and English tutors to work with her students. In several cases, Lynn tutored the children of one of her former students! She proudly displayed senior class photos of all of her tutoring students, and loved hearing about their lives beyond high school.

In 2015, Lynn and Tom moved north to a small community in Vermont. They found a charming home and quickly became connected with the local community. They enjoyed being closer to her daughter and family and the Weston Priory where they attended Eucharist several times a week. Lynn continued her tutoring, but now her work was all virtual. From their Vermont home, Lynn continued to work with a multitude of students all over the world via Skype and enjoyed visits and calls from former students. She continued her tutoring until her last day of life.

Throughout her life, Lynn chose to see beauty and find hope in her students. She often hosted, fed, and advised current and former students at her homes in NY and NC. Some will state that she “saved their life” as she connected and guided them through difficult times. Many others will state that she believed in them when others didn’t and gave them confidence to proceed with their education and dreams. Many will comment on how she frequently thought of former students and looked for ways to support them (sometimes with the help of other students) many years later.

Lynn had strong relationships with longtime friends and colleagues who cherished their time with her. She found pure joy in her marriage with Tom and loved their time together at home and traveling, including two wonderful trips to Italy. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and cared about, and was proud of her daughters and son in law. Those who knew Lynn understood that she faced many challenging times and didn’t always manage those challenges well. This led to problems with some relationships which were not always resolved and have been a hardship for those involved. In spite of those difficulties, Lynn looked for, and strived to embrace beauty, purpose, joy, peace and love. Over the years, Lynn spent time writing. Her collection of essays and poems on the pursuit of spirituality is entitled, A Contemplative Life.

Lynn is survived by her loving husband, Tom Geer, daughter Elaine Simek Kusel, son in law Christophe Kusel, grandchildren Madeleine, Max, and Vanessa Kusel, Tom’s son Moriah Geer-Hardwick, his wife, Jenny and their daughter, Saya, in addition to a host of longtime friends, colleagues, and students.

In her closing words to so many conversations, “Pax et Amor”.

Lynn, you are at Peace and you are loved.  

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