John Tate Geohegan

John grew up in Dayton, Ohio, the second of three children, an adored elder brother, Kenneth and his charming younger sister, Jacintha. After earning a degree in engineering at Cornell University, he served during the Korean war in the Army’s nuclear program. He was stationed in Albuquerque, at Sandia Base, and that is when his love affair with Albuquerque was born.  Right near the end of his service he was sent to Germany for a month’s tour of duty.

He became an accomplished musician, singing folk songs, and playing the guitar. John and his first wife introduced their children to folk dancing. He was an avid international folk dancer and made lifelong friends in the folk dance community, including his second wife Janet. He is remembered for his gentle manner, kindness and wit. John’s interests included language, mathematics, physics, astronomy, puzzles, magic and illusions. John headed the Humanist Society, helped found, served as first chairman for, and was very involved with New Mexicans for Science and Reason (NMSR). He published a notable article about Einstein and the durability of the theory of relativity in the Skeptical Inquirer. He and Janet  joyfully recorded petroglyphs at the Petroglyph National Monument on the west side of Albuquerque. 

John died after a long illness. He is survived by Janet, his wife of forty-three years, Jacintha, his sister in Ohio, three children Ellen, Ken, and Steve, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A day of remembrance will be scheduled for early this summer.