Richard John (Dick) Geraci

Richard John (Dick) Geraci passed away peacefully three months before his 92nd birthday. He was born in 1931 in Easton, Pennsylvania, to Crocefissa and Antonio Geraci of Sommatino, Italy. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Liboria Abrams, Lee Grifo, Lillian Balice, Carmella Curran, and brother Frank Geraci, his ex-wife Betty Geraci, and second wife Mary Green’s mother Trudy, sister Carolyn, and brother Jimmy, 12 Dachshunds, two golden retrievers, and Mongo, his favorite mutt. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and his five children from his first wife: Carol Ann, Richard Anthony, Maribeth, Rhonda Leigh, and Michelle Antoinette, who gave him eight grandchildren, all of whom reside in parts of Georgia and North Carolina. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Pat Vaughn (known as his Pet), Tanya Geraci, his special niece, and many other nieces and nephews. Known in his younger days for his blue suede shoes, Sinatra croon, and beyond handsome good looks, he was a tailor’s apprentice, linotype operator, Air Force machinist, and printing graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology. Dick put his diverse skills and knowledge to work in print shops from Atlanta to Asheville before settling in Dalton, where he soon founded what became Georgia Samplebook Company. For over 30 years, he employed hundreds of people from Dalton and surrounding areas and served the ever-growing flooring industry, adding to its growth with his innovations. Besides his many dogs, Dick also had a passion for cooking, canning, gardening, and growing varieties of fig trees, woodworking, designing, refurbishing one home, and being a general contractor for the final home where he and his wife, Mary, lived. Dick leaves many dear friends like Bob and Melanie Reichley, who always came with baskets of delights, and Ralph & Martha Gordon, whose Sunday afternoon porch sittings were a joy, along with Ralph’s many other visits with his buddy during the week. Dick passed away at home with his loving wife, Mary, sister-in-law, Pat, his daughter, Rhonda, and beloved caretaker and friend, Brenda Hansird, whose tireless service will never be forgotten. Many thanks go out to the optimal care he received from all his medical providers, especially his primary care doctor, Dr. Zuppa, and the many hospice nurses, Halle, Jennifer, Erin, Stephanie, and Courtney, the social worker, Halle, the chaplain, Scott, and dear healthcare aid, Tracy from Heartlite Hospice.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Love Funeral Home followed by a service at 12:30 p.m. in their chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, http://hsnwga.org and Dalton State College to support their Allied Health and Social work program and the education of more nurses, health aids, and social workers in our local area. https://daltonstate.givingfuel.com/givenow .