Columbus, OH — Meir Israel Geller, 73, owner, trainer and breeder of Belle Amore Stable, died Jan. 11, 2022, peacefully in his sleep at home in Middletown, N.Y., after a valiant brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Meir Geller died Jan. 11, 2022. Photo courtesy of the Geller family.

Born in Chicago, Ill., he had just turned 73 years old on Jan. 7.

Ace Of Pace, a 2010 New Jersey Sire Stakes 2-year-old pacing filly champion, and homebred Carobbean Pacetry, winner of a 2018 Yonkers Open Mares Pace, were among some of the most successful horses that Mr. Geller owned and trained. Also of note also were pacer Sweet Love Rocknrol and trotter Rockome Vicky.

Mr. Geller’s racing career began in his teens, studying race statistics and betting. He took a sabbatical from his college education to follow his love of horses before returning to NYU to finish his studies in clinical psychology. During that sabbatical he worked as a groom for Robert Campbell and Clint Galbraith, in Monticello, N.Y. and Orlando, Fla. for about three years.

After college he changed gears to work as a computer programmer for CSI and Rapidata, Inc. in Manhattan. He continued in computers at Fox & Geller in New Jersey. He joined Metal Processing Inc. in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1985, importing steel rebars for construction to Florida, Puerto Rico, and many Caribbean islands.

He will be remembered most for his wry and sharp sense of humor, for his love of both immediate and extended family and his many friends, and for his kindness and generosity to people and animals.

He believed in reaching out a helping hand to those in need, whether that meant holding a door open for the person behind him or donating to international causes such as UJA and Hadassah.

If people are inspired to make a donation, please do so to the Pancreatic Cancer Association or Hadassah in his name.

Mr. Geller is survived by his wife of 40 years, Iris; daughters, Chana, Adina and Leilani (husband Justin and daughter Mila Alicia); father, David; brother, Jake; and sister, Sara. He was preceded in death by his mother, Relly.

Part of a very large family, he will be missed by many.

The family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses who helped with his illness both in and out of the hospital during his eight months of treatment. Special shout outs go to Dr. Stewart and his wonderful staff including the infusion center, the entire crew of Garnet Health Hospital, and his team of Crystal Run medical professionals. They would also like to thank both Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties and the staff of Kind Hearts, Caring Angels. In addition, they are thankful to Rabbi Meir Borenstein of Goshen Chabad of Orange County for his spiritual guidance during this trying time. They had hope until the end.