Date of death: 4/16/2022
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1966
Joseph R. McGeehan, age 82, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022. His wife, Jane Rasp McGeehan, the love of Joe’s life, survives him. He was born in Indianapolis to Helen Louise( Rogers) McGeehan and Myron John McGeehan.
During Joe’s lifetime as an educator serving 41 years, he was a teacher, a high school principal, an assistant superintendent, and a superintendent. He served as superintendent for the Charlottesville, Virginia, schools for five years and for the Highline School District in suburban Seattle for 12 years.
Among Joe’s many honors are the John Henry Newman Award, the Eli Lilly Fellowship in U.S. History, a Stanford University Post-Graduate Fellowship, the Proctor & Gamble Award for research studies, the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, a Fulbright Scholarship, and the Top 100 executives Award from the American Association of School Superintendents (AASA).
Joe was awarded his doctoral degree from Indiana University. During his career he led school desegregation programs for the Indianapolis Public Schools. He received the Ford Foundation Excellence Award for Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis where he served as assistant principal and then principal. During his tenure in the Highline School District, he led the founding and development of Aviation High School, an award-winning school which continues to prepare youth for careers in aviation. Also in the Highline School District, Joe led successful efforts to generate millions of dollars to build new schools and to create partnerships with businesses, labor organizations, city governments, and other leading organizations within public and private sectors.
Joe loved the arts, books, music, automobiles, cooking, boating, and entertaining family and friends. He strove valiantly to remember that after we pray we get off our knees and go to work. He was guided by the counsel, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Joe’s big heart, wonderful sense of humor, keen intellect, and all-out laugh will be sorely missed by those fortunate enough to spend time with him.