Vicent Giegerich

GIEGERICH, VINCENT, 81, returned to his Heavenly Father on July 4, 2013.

He is survived by his wife, Alberta Eiden, two sisters, Maria Giegerich and Kathleen (Pirchard) Pearce; sister-in-law, Gunilla Giegerich and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vincent was a member of the Passionist religious community for 31 years, taught philosophy at the college level for two decades, followed by 17 years of public service, helping design and develop job training programs for low-income Kentucky residents. Vincent enjoyed writing poetry. His poem "Symbiosis" appeared in the Spring 2004 issue of The Heartland Review. A collection of 34 mostly shorter verses, Reidlonn Reflections, was published in 2001 as a project for his neighborhood association. He was most proud of winning the 2011 Thomas Merton Prize For Poetry of the Sacred.

A Celebration of Life will be held noon Thursday at Louisville Memorial Gardens Funeral Home East, 11601 Ballardsville Road.