Paul Emil Geck

Paul Emil Geck, age 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Longboat Key, Florida, on November 18, 2025. Born on January 4, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, Paul grew up in the city and attended De La Salle Collegiate High School where he met some of his lifelong friends. He spent most of his adult life in Commerce Township. In retirement, he and his wife Karen made their home in Longboat Key, where he enjoyed the warm weather and a slower pace of life.

Paul began his long career with Ford Motor Company in 1963, ultimately serving as the senior staff advanced high-strength steel technical specialist before his retirement. He also served as chairman of the Auto Steel Partnership. Throughout his career, he led major cross-functional engineering research efforts, including the Improved Materials & Powertrain Architectures for 21st Century Trucks (IMPACT) Project, a large-scale collaboration between industry and the Department of Defense focused on pickup-truck weight reduction through advanced steel technologies.

After retiring from Ford, Paul continued to work as a consultant to the steel and automotive industries and taught the Advanced High-Strength Steel Seminar for SAE International. He held two master’s degrees in engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan. His work generated numerous publications in computer-aided engineering, noise and vibration engineering, steel technology, and automotive weight reduction. Among his professional honors, he received the Industry Leadership Award from the American Iron & Steel Institute in 2006, the Long-Term Contribution Award from the Auto/Steel Partnership in 2007, and earned the SAE-Automotive Resources Institute Registered Consultant designation in 2008.

Outside of his professional achievements, Paul enjoyed both energetic pursuits and quieter pastimes. In earlier years, he could be found on a motorcycle or on a court or field, playing or watching sports. He loved being on the water, boating and fishing, and he especially loved visiting friends in Saratoga, New York, and spending time at the race track. At home, he relaxed with drawing, reading, doing puzzles and playing solitaire–his mind always active. He once coached a high-school basketball team and hosted a public-access cable show where he interviewed experts in their fields, reflecting his wide-ranging curiosity and steady patience.

Paul is survived by his wife, Karen Geck; his brother, Joseph Geck; his sister, Anna Geck; his sister-in-law, Barbara Geck; his sister-in-law, Sharyn Schymick; Sharyn’s partner, Russ Ravary; and many nieces and nephews. He will be remembered for his intelligence, dedication, humor, and the warmth he shared with those close to him.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul’s memory may be made to:
Alzheimer’s Association or Affinity Care of Manatee or
Affinity Care of Manatee — affinityhealthflorida.com or (941) 277-5990