<div dir="ltr"><div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-4bb00f8b-7fff-ff11-f582-8667ec88bbb1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">Dear Campus Community,</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">It is with much sadness that I share the news of the sudden passing of longtime Cardinal assistant soccer coach Geoff Spear. Spear, a 1985 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh and resident of Peru, New York, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 63 on Sunday, January 26, 2025.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The story of Plattsburgh State men’s soccer undoubtedly couldn’t be told without mentioning Geoff, who has been a fixture on the Cardinal sidelines for the past four decades and has played a critical role in conference, regional and national success attained by the team. All told, he spent a total of 29 years as an assistant coach with the men’s soccer program, helping Plattsburgh State win seven SUNYAC championships and qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament on nine occasions. For the past seven seasons, he has lent his expertise to the Cardinals’ women’s soccer program as a goalkeeping coach and helped Plattsburgh State</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">make five SUNYAC Tournament appearances.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Geoff’s passion for Cardinal Athletics was reinforced by several family ties to the department. His father, Dr. Merritt Spear, was the longtime face of Plattsburgh State Sports Medicine and is a member of the Plattsburgh State Athletic Hall of Fame; his son, Ian (’18), played men’s soccer at Plattsburgh State from 2014-17; and his daughter, Samantha, competed for the Cardinals’ women’s soccer team in 2022 during her graduate year. During his undergraduate career, Geoff competed in soccer and swimming at Plattsburgh State, and he ultimately returned to his</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">alma mater in 1994 as an assistant coach on former head men’s soccer coach</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Chris Waterbury’s staff.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">A husband to Dr. Anne-Marie Spear, a renowned North Country dentist; a father of four children (Taylor, Ian, Samantha and Tanner); and a grandfather of one grandchild (Blake), Geoff was a larger-than-life presence in the local sports community. He coached soccer at Clinton Community College, Peru High School and the Peru Youth Commission, along with many youth soccer camps. He was also a founding member of the Plattsburgh Football Club. Geoff’s expertise in goalkeeping served as a valuable resource in the community, helping elevate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">several local and collegiate goalkeepers to their maximum potential.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on January 31, at Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on February 1, at St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh. Internment will take place in the parish cemetery in the Spring.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">A full obituary can be found at: </span><a href="https://www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Geoffrey-" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https://www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Geoffrey-</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Geoffrey-" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Spear?obId=35095255</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">A statement from Plattsburgh State Athletics can be found here: </span><a href="https://gocardinalsports.com/news/2025/1/27/mens-soccer-plattsburgh-state-" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">https://gocardinalsports.com/news/2025/1/27/mens-soccer-plattsburgh-state-</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://gocardinalsports.com/news/2025/1/27/mens-soccer-plattsburgh-state-" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">athletics-mourns-the-loss-of-assistant-mens-and-womens-soccer-coach-geoff-</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Sincerely,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Dr. Alexander Enyedi</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">President</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><br></div>