(from files of Broken Arrow Ledger)
EDUCATOR DIES OF HEART ATTACK
An apparent heart attack Thursday claimed the life of a prominent Broken Arrow educator and former city official. Fred Harrison Gesin Jr. suffered the attack at his new trailer home east of the city and death was almost immediate. He was 57.
He has filled the post of assistant principal of Broken Arrow high school for the past two years. His second term as city councilman ended in May and he did not seek re-election. For the last four years, he also was vice mayor.
Well known to generations of students, he started at Broken Arrow high school in 1945 as band director, history and driver education teacher. He later became full-time counselor, a post he held until he was named to the administrative slot.
He was a native of Pennsylvania, but he came to Oklahoma with his parents at an early age and finished high school in Sapulpa. He attended Northeastern State college to obtain his bachelor's degree in instrumental music. In recent years he went back to school evenings and weekends and summers to obtain his master's with emphasis on counseling and administrative work.
Services wee held Monday afternoon in the high school auditorium, with Rev. James Dodd, pastor of Assembly of God church giving the eulogy. Flowers banked the stage on which Gesin himself had many times appeared before the students. There were many young people in the crowd who filled the auditorium and representatives of almost every class who had graduated at the high school in post-war years.
Dodd lauded Gesin for his work with the youth of the city and related anecdotes when his own two daughters were members of his band. Gesin was always a welcome addition to any informal gathering for the fund of warm stories he could contribute about his experiences with young people.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah; one son, Capt. Fred Hugh Gesin, in advanced academic training at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater; two grandchildren; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred H Gesin Sr. of Sapulpa; and a sister, Mrs. Anabelle McCray of Tulsa.
Marlin Funeral Home was in charge of burial at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were H.K. Ragsdale, Joe Robinson, Dr. James Newcomb, Bill Secrest, Jimmy Young and Dr. Richard Polk.

Birth Certificate