Emotional Memorial Service for David Geiger on Cruz Bay Beach

A heavily-attended and emotional memorial service was held in David Geiger’s honor on Wednesday afternoon, November 2, on Cruz Bay beach in front of The Beach Bar.

The service began with three blows of the conch shell after which Geiger’s family members spoke. His father told how a young David first visited St. John with his family during an Atlantic Ocean circumnavigation. David fell in love with the island on that first family trip and vowed that he would live here one day, his father said.

Family and friends shed many tears and shared memories of the popular and kind-hearted sailor, painter and builder on the sunny afternoon in front of Cruz Bay harbor where David’s sailboat Willful is still moored.

The ceremony ended with three more blows of the conch shell, each signifying a different aspect of prayer – for David’s soul, for his teenage son Nathan’s recoveryfrom injuries suffered in the attack and for family and friends to find faith in the face of despair.