John Geoffrey Leech

Treasurer
Geoff has been an enthusiastic participant in San Antonio Symposium Great Books Institute. Geoff first heard about the ‘great books’ when his parents gave him the Great Books of the Western World during his senior year of high school.

Experience & Activities

Geoff studied chemical engineering at Purdue University, graduating in January 1966 with a BSChE, earned an MBA at George Washington University, was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and worked for years in the Environmental Industry, in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. In one notable project for the Defense Department, Geoff served as manager of a multi-contractor team to destroy the remnants of the Soviet anthrax stockpile on “Voz” Island in the Aral Sea, Uzbekistan in 2004. He retired in 2011 after more than 45 years of challenging and rewarding work.

Geoff is now in his fourth year as a Docent at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA). He is currently the editor of the newsletter, Docent News and Views. He serves on the Docent Council, serves as chair of the docent book club, and participates as a member of the research committee. He is an active participant in multisensory tours for the blind and visually impaired offered one Saturday each month at SAMA. In 2016, Geoff began taking classes at ALIR. ALIR is open to adults age 50 and over in San Antonio, and currently numbers over 600 members. In fall 2016, he also began teaching. He has taught three courses and will continue in Spring 2018 with a course covering everyday life in ancient Rome. He enjoys courses on art history, technology, U.S. and world history, literature, opera, and film. In May 2017, Geoff was elected to a two-year term on the ALIR Council. He serves as chair of the Scholarship committee.

Geoff has been an enthusiastic participant in San Antonio Symposium Great Books Institute. Geoff first heard about the ‘great books’ when his parents gave him the Great Books of the Western World during his senior year of high school. He also participated in a weekly Great Books readings and discussion group of high school seniors in 1960-1961. These opportunities fueled a life-long interest in the Great Books. He has been able to help enhance the readings by leading tours of participants to the San Antonio Museum of Art’s excellent collection of Greek ceramics, as well as other artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean world. Geoff was named a board member in 2017 and currently serves as treasurer.