Geoffrey C. Packard ’70

We lost a champion of justice when Geoff died of lung cancer March 17, 2011, at home in Watertown, Mass.

Born in Boston, Geoff came to us from Weston High School. A history major and member of Stevenson Hall, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Geoff went directly into the Massachusetts Defenders Center. His commitment to justice kept him busy for 30 years defending those without the resources to hire a lawyer. In 2003, he was appointed associate justice of the District Court of Massachusetts.

During his career, he won awards as both counsel and judge for his intellect and moral standards, but one friend noted that he had an enormous gentleness toward his friends, and he had a deep understanding of human frailty. At our 25th, Geoff wrote that he considered being a public defender to be “in the nation’s service.”  

Geoff was a lover of history, novels, poetry, sailing, and the Red Sox. As his cancer progressed, he exhibited his trademark grace, wit, and humor in a blog he shared with family and friends.

To his wife, Patricia A. Geller, and his sons, Nick and Sam, we send sincere condolences.