The Ramparts neighborhood has lost a devoted and talented leader, the greater Los Angeles and the State of California are most untimely deprived of his many wisdoms and experiences.  In the fifteen years of his leadership, a real community came into being and survived the horrendous adversities put upon it.

His neighborhood action group, The Rampart Rangers, took no subsidies, & was a true association of neighbors, period. Whether in cleanup of graffiti, removal of abandoned furniture, beautification of of streets in his "Virgil Village," night patrolling en mass to proclaim the community values and confront criminal gangs, he was there in the forefront.

This independent stance, an ultimate in expressions of textbook civic virtue, morbidly, threatened the professional political establishment and massive obstacles were placed to obstruct his unprecedented achievements toward the realization of a truly unsubsidized, politically independent LAPD/Community service center, etc.

GEOFF was far more than simply a remarkably wise and effective civic activist.  Family first, friends, neighbors, community and then nation were his hierarchy of concerns.  A bachelor, he undertook the care of his father's many end needs, and his mother's as well in her last years. So remarkably so, that he truly was the force which allowed her the grace of several years life after a major stroke.  I envy the medical savvy he garnered in the recovery she attained. ELAINE and he, were beloved and respected leaders in a beleaguered community of neighbors.

WEBSTER WONG, now a detective in the Wilshire Division of the LAPD, fondly remembers those early days when then, an officer in the Ramparts Division, he was approached by GEOFF to coordinate a National Night Out march and festivities at the Rampart Station. They worked out the practicality of the many routes of the various vicinity groups and the construction of the 'haunted' house on the Station site. Pioneers....This had never happened before!!!

I happened on their work and was stupefied in amazement.  What an achievement in our over regulated world. Only one subsequent year had Bldg & Safety voicing concerns, but, cooperating with a great cause, simply aided 'em in making sure it was safe. 'Money was never on our minds' says WONG, the concept of retaking the streets was so much an expression of the neighborhood, that people volunteered, nobody solicited. "Money was the last thing on our mind"

Hollywood Division's success was their role model, but, the Ramparts annual events endured to August of this year in its superlative vigor. (see our Summer newsletter)
 

• In 1990 GEOFF's Ramparts Rangers' neighborhood watch group allied itself with some 14 others in an association able to realize greater political impact:  They called it: 'United Streets of Hollywood' and influenced public policy in dramatic ways. i.e. : 
• Tiring of our weekly eventide mass excursions of members to paint out graffiti, I questioned; all questioned: "Why de heck are we having to do this in our leisure time while the G__d D___d twits responsible simply sit in jail" we said: they should do it. But, easier said done than realized. Liability, workers comp, etc. presented the need for a competent construct:
• SHARON ROMANO, then Co-Chair, determinedly following this logic thru with the folks @ our Hollywood Municipal Court, created a non-profit supervisory body to realize that 'elegant' thought of having miscreants cleanup their mess and pay for the privilege.. She named it: "The Hollywood Beautification Team" ...It has succeeded beyond all expectation & to universal acclaim.
• Loiterings to sell drugs and street sexual solicitations, being a major crime and breach of the peace situation: with GEOFF as co-chair, A.B. 1035, a measure to abate such was constructed by BILL STERLING, (supervising Senior Deputy City Attorney) in concert with JON JAY, co-chair & VIRGINIA CHARON, & was sent to the State Assembly, and passed the Public Safety Committee, to the astonishment of all. 

Active in PLAN L.A. from its start, he was knowledgeable and always conciliatory to the fretful, and highly regarded by participants citywide. Juanita Dellowes who I met in my belated inquiry into his demise, spoke eloquently of his participation . 

The recipient of many honors, it was in 1997 that he was hailed as the Citizen of the Year by his Democratic Party Assembly. Attending the event at the Bonaventure Hotel downtown was a traffic eye opener for yours truly.

1997 saw successful rebuff to the improper location of a 'sexual encounter' in his neighborhood. The City Council supported his position in a tempestuous session, which saw Council person Goldberg stridently contesting the testimony of LAUD vice officers.

1997 too, saw the beginnings of the ill-fated charter reform efforts whereby not one but two Charter Committees would contemplate the matter. One elected, one appointed by Council members. GEOFF could not devote 2 years of time to the elected body but ventured to host the candidates and to give input as to policy.

1998 saw much Charter activity with sensible input, but true influence was not to be had on our parts. Time, health problems precluded many in United Sts. of Hollywood.  It was late in that year that Elaine suffered her 'stroke' whilst on business en route to San Diego. 

With GEOFF commuting to her emergency hospital till she was able to be relocated to Culver City facilities. Public Policy considerations of course were 'back burner' at best.

With the 13th council seat empty, we urged GEOFF to stand for the office and he agreed...but an indifferent fate was to be. First, a beloved associate of both Elaine and Geoff died, and Elaine soon followed. Emotionally drained, he withdrew his candidacy, and, our hopes for a competent representative.

In that Campaign, however, his brief impact on voters was remarkable. He had presented himself but once on a podium crowded by some 10 candidates, and his physical appearance was, candidly, the least 'glamorous', and imminently forgettable. 

He was badly overweight, wore glasses....but, his responses to the questions of the audience were so elegantly apart, so memorable, that in subsequent venues the audience would still ask the why of his absence.

In recent times, he still juggled many responsibilities, business, union, Party, neighborhood, two tenants ( whom he greatly subsidized), and an overweening housing code inspector, who doted on trivia.

He was intent on marriage and family, but such explorations were not to be, passeing, whilst showering, of a heart attack. And unnoticed.

All had counseled him as to the burden of his increasing weight, as had I in a luncheon but days before, as it turned out.

Unnumbered people mourn the untimely loss of a friend, neighbor, advocate for their needs, and a sensible ally in issues vital to all.

I believe his life achievements reveal and celebrate his message to us:

Duty:  to family, friends, neighborhood, State and nation and to deity.

Pleasure: in our devotions.

All else being but trivia.

The following is an email excerpt from Bill McMahon, member, Subcommittee, UTLA:

"I read your article on the lasubs group site and found it very interesting. At a recent UTLA House of Reps meeting, there was a moment of silence for Geoff. After, we were trying to get some items passed in remembrance of his work on the Subcommittee. The floor challenged the speaker as to why one item should be passed when, after some difficulty, it was finally mentioned that it would be unfair to the students to be put in a class with a different sub teacher every day for months just because the district did not want to pay a slightly higher rate. In this moment, the entire house of reps realized Geoff's devotion to the students in the classrooms, and quickly passed the measure. It would be in this light that Geoff's work will be remembered at UTLA."