Deb Geisler (1957-2024)

Convention organizer and editor Deb Geisler, 66, died March 23, 2024. She was in home hospice care with lung and heart disease. Geisler was best known for her work running Boston-area conventions, including a Worldcon.

Deborah M. Geisler was born September 20, 1957 in Dayton OH. She attended Ohio University, where she earned bachelor and master’s degrees, and got her PhD at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She taught communication and journalism at Suffolk University in Boston for more than 30 years.

Geisler became involved with convention organizing when she helped out with Noreascon 3 in 1989. She was chair of Boskone 36 in 1999, led Worldcon bids for Orlando in 2001 and Boston in 2004, and served as chair of the latter convention, Noreascon 4. She also served on many other Worldcon committees, and was involved with both Massachusetts Convention Fandom, Inc. (MCFI) and the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA). She edited books for NESFA Press as well.

Geisler is survived by husband Michael Benveniste (married 1991).