Dr. Guy Adrien Ernest Geffroy (93) passed peacefully on July 28, 2025. He was born on July 31, 1931, in Marseilles, France, the son of Adrien F. M. Geffroy and Therese L. Legris. He was a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, and a renowned neurologist in the Rhode Island medical community.
He was a direct descendant of Louis Hébert (one of the Founders of Quebec) who traveled to the New World in 1606 as the first European apothecary in what later would become Canada, as well as the first European to farm in that region.
As a child, Guy lived in France, and Senegal (then part of France’s colonial empire). In June 1940, Guy, his mother, and two sisters made their way to Bordeaux to embark on the SS Washington, the last passenger ship to leave France at the onset of World War II. On the morning of June 11, a German submarine surfaced and stopped the SS Washington and signaled "10 minutes to abandon ship." After a tense hour of negotiations conducted via signal light, the submarine commander finally signaled "Thought you were another ship; please go on, go on!"
The ship arrived in New York 10 days later. Guy and his family traveled north to join his mother’s family in Rhode Island. He attended Moses Brown School, and graduated from Coventry High School, Providence College, and the University of Ottawa Medical School.
Following medical school, Dr. Geffroy served in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Officer with the Third Marine Division in the Philippines and Japan.
After his military service, Dr. Geffroy moved to Massachusetts and completed his residency in neurology at the Boston University Program including the Boston Veteran Administration Hospital. He met his future wife Margaret Mary Frates, a teacher who was also studying neuropsychology in Boston. They married in 1960 and moved to Providence in 1963 where he began his neurology private practice and long affiliation with Rhode Island Hospital, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospital where he served as Chief of Neurology.
When Brown University established its Academic Department of Neurology at RI Hospital, Dr. Geffroy became a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology. He was regarded as a wonderful clinician and teacher. He had tremendous impact on the training of residents when the program was in its infancy, and his involvement continued for decades. He was known for his attention to detail, excellent listening, and compassion in caring for his patients. Always in pursuit of the latest medical knowledge, he developed a special interest in cutting edge treatments for Multiple Sclerosis patients. Above all, he was known for his kind nature and always being the consummate gentleman. Dr. Geffroy cared deeply for all his patients over five decades as a physician and was grateful for his role as an educator. He retired in 2008 at the age of 77.
Guy had a keen intellect beyond the medical sciences. He was bi-lingual and enjoyed speaking French whenever he could and would often offer thanks before meals in French. He spoke knowledgeably about a variety of subjects and was especially good at weaving in personal anecdotes to communicate larger historical themes when speaking with his grandchildren. He enjoyed time with his family and would regularly travel from Boston to the Washington, DC area to attend his grandchildren’s special events and sports games, or to visit “just because.” He valued faith, family, and considered sincerity an essential quality. He was a kind, caring, and humble man who never raised his voice in anger. In the words of one grandson, “He was dignified and carried himself, always, with grace and class. He was sophisticated and knowledgeable, but in a completely unpretentious way.”
In retirement, he enjoyed walks on the beach, choral singing, and international travel. Guy was an accomplished piano player who could play melodies by ear. He had a beautiful baritone voice. He and his wife, retired District Court Judge Patricia Moore, were active members of the choirs at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Wakefield as well as at St. Joseph Church in Providence.
Guy was the husband for 38 years of the late Margaret Frates Geffroy, PhD, and Judge Moore for 23 years. He was a long-time resident of Providence, Narragansett, and Matunuck. He enjoyed memberships at the Dunes Club, the Brown Faculty Club, and formerly of the Point Judith Country Club and the Saunderstown Yacht Club. He served as a member of the Moses Brown School Board of Trustees, and as the longtime Medical Advisor to the City of Providence Retirement Board.
Guy is survived by his wife, Pat, his four children: Marc A. Geffroy (Mary Hughes), Dr. Margot A. Geffroy (Dr. John Dashe), LtCol Michael G. Geffroy, USMCR (ret.) (Sarah Roland), and Ms. Carolanne M. Geffroy, MSW. Also surviving are: his ten grandchildren Clara, Brian, Xavier, John, William, Benjamin, Seamus, Margaret Mary, Katherine Grace, and Bridget Maria; as well as his sister, Monique Kane (Bill Heinz) of Palo Alto, California; and Judge Moore’s children Mrs. Gillian Crawford (the late Douglas J. Crawford) and their daughters Meghan and Lydia; Mr. David Moore (Bonnie Moore) and their son William, and Professor Matthew Moore (Jolie Burrows) and their children Aurora and Sasha.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High Street, Wakefield, RI, 02879.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Geffroy’s name may be made to:
Brown Neurology
Attention: Resident’s Educational Fund
Department of Neurology
RI Hospital
593 Eddy St. – APC Building, 5th Floor
Providence, RI 02903
To send flowers or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Guy Adrien Ernest Geffroy, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Service
23
Aug
114 High Street
Wakefield, RI 02879
