Lasting Memories

Jacqueline Angelo Geist
Oct. 30, 1938-July 30, 2025
Palo Alto, California

Jacqueline Lee Cook was born in San Bruno, CA to parents Opal and Clarence Cook. The family moved to Menlo Park where she attended Menlo Atherton High School. She was involved in the weekly newspaper and yearbook while at M-A.

Jackie later married Anthony (Jerry) Angelo whom she had dated since M-A. Jackie and Jerry raised two daughters, Lisa and Amy, in Palo Alto. After divorcing in 1978, Jackie married Joeseph (Joe) Geist in 1997 and helped raise his then-14-year-old son, Charlie, also in Palo Alto.

Jackie worked at Stanford in the labs before raising her daughters. She later returned to work as an executive assistant and personal secretary for several high-profile companies and individuals, in the energy, healthcare, and venture capital industries.

Jackie collected life-long friends everywhere she went, from every job she held, to neighborhood groups (Evergreen Girls), and playing bridge. She stayed close with her high school friends, too! She loved traveling with Joe and her many friends taking trips to Europe, Africa, Antarctica, and discovering the US.

In addition to traveling, Jackie loved cooking, entertaining, tennis, sewing and scrapbooking. She enjoyed many concerts, musicals, and often had loud music playing! Her favorites included Kris Kristofferson, Neil Diamond, Joan Baez, and so many more.

Jackie suffered a series of strokes in March of 2024 which left her bedbound. Despite several setbacks, she fought incredibly hard. She had amazing support from her daughter, Lisa, her devoted husband Joe, and a team of caregivers which allowed her to continue enjoying visits from friends and family – especially her great granddaughter, who kept Jackie smiling for the last several months.

Jackie is survived by her loving husband of 29 years, Joe Geist; sister Patricia Santos; two daughters – Lisa (Mike) and Amy (Nick); three step sons – Charlie, Steve (Laura), and John (Janine) Geist; ten grandchildren – John (Devon), Paul (Casandra), Erik, Jenson, Jack, Jillian, Andrew, Susie, Ashton, and Caleb; one great granddaughter – Amara; and three nieces – Erin, Carol (Sean), and Becky. She is predeceased by her parents and her sister Dorothy.