[Important Information for Students] On the Passing of Geoff Spear

[Office of the President]

Dear Campus Community,

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.

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

make five SUNYAC Tournament appearances.

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

alma mater in 1994 as an assistant coach on former head men’s soccer coach

Chris Waterbury’s staff.

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

several local and collegiate goalkeepers to their maximum potential.

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.

A full obituary can be found at:
https://www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Geoffrey-

Spear?obId=35095255
<https://www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Geoffrey->

A statement from Plattsburgh State Athletics can be found here:
https://gocardinalsports.com/news/2025/1/27/mens-soccer-plattsburgh-state-

athletics-mourns-the-loss-of-assistant-mens-and-womens-soccer-coach-geoff-
<https://gocardinalsports.com/news/2025/1/27/mens-soccer-plattsburgh-state->

Sincerely,

Dr. Alexander Enyedi
President
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