William J. Geppert Jr., veteran, mathematics educator

Dr. William J. Geppert Jr. was born in Clearfield, Pa., Jan. 22, 1935. He passed away peacefully Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Delaware Hospice in Milford. Bill is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 64 years, Norma Kress Geppert. He had two children, William J. Geppert III; and a daughter, Kristin Leigh Geppert.

 

Bill was the eldest of 11 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Schrot Geppert; his daughter, Kristin Leigh Geppert; his brothers, Timothy F., Theodore N., Gregory L., John G. and Charles L. Geppert; and his sister, Mary Katherine Russell. He is survived by his brothers, Dennis E., Joseph L. and Michael D.; and his sister, Ann Marie Lansberry.

 

Bill served as the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching mathematics coordinator for the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics from 1999 to 2015. This is a program funded by the National Science Foundation. He has been a member of ASSM since 1972. He had been involved with the PAEMST program for 33 years. Dr. Geppert is a retired state supervisor of mathematics (K-12) who served the State of Delaware, the State Board of Education, and Delaware State Department of Education for 23 years. He served 10 years as senior mathematics associate for the Eisenhower Consortium for Mathematics and Science Education at Research for Better Schools Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa., working with schools throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. Dr. Geppert attended Mount Saint Mary’s University and then graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Delaware, and a doctorate from Nova University. In addition to being a member of the ASSM, he was also a member of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, the Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Dr. Geppert served on numerous committees and their respective boards throughout the years for these professional organizations. He has taught K-12 and college mathematics to students and teachers of mathematics from 1959-99. He was the cofounder of the Delaware Secondary School Mathematics League, which is in its 45th year for grades seven through 12. He was the co-founder of Delaware Elementary Mathematics League for grades four through six from 1980-96. He was co-director of the outreach committee for the 2001 International Mathematics Olympiad for high school students held at Randolph-Macon University in Virginia. He founded the Computer Faire and conducted K-12 programs for Delaware students and teachers from 1977-93. Bill received the Dr. G. Cuthbert Webber Award from University of Delaware from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Certificate of Appreciation from The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Project and its Annual Talent Searches, an Outstanding Service Award from Texas Instruments Inc., an Award of Excellence for Service from the National Science Foundation, and a LifeTime Achievement Award from the Delaware State Department of Education for his contributions to mathematics education. Lastly, he also served as president of the Camden-Wyoming Little League.

 

Bill was a member of St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach. He was an usher and served on one of the church money-counting teams for the St. Edmond parish for the past 21 years. Bill served as an usher for Holy Cross in Dover for 22 years. He was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus for 65 years and is a member of the Star of the Sea Council 7297 in Rehoboth Beach. Bill also served on the Diocese of Wilmington school board and the school board of Most Blessed Sacrament School in Berlin, Md. He served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserves. Bill was also a member of American Legion Post 5, Rehoboth Beach.

 

A viewing for Dr. Geppert Jr. will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 30, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, Rehoboth Beach, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. A wake will take place immediately after the service in the banquet hall of Lutheran Church of Our Savior. The burial will take place in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover.