Geoffrey Keith Provo Jr.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, April 21, 2022:

With sad hearts, we announce the death of Geoffrey Keith Provo, 75, on September 26, 2021. He died of complications from eighteen months of cancer.

Geoff was born in Philadelphia, PA, the oldest of Keith and Carolyn Provo’s six children. The family moved to St.Louis, MO, where Geoff’s interest in cars began. His father had a soap box derby-type vehicle with a lawnmower engine made for him. Geoff loved it. In 1960, the family settled in Hillsborough, CA. Along with his studies and playing sports at the Menlo School in Atherton, Geoff continued to tinker with cars. Throughout his boyhood and beyond, Geoff loved any kind of vehicle that could be made to go fast. He put a V8 engine into a Model A Ford. A souped-up ’57 Chevy came next. As time passed, there were go-karts, hot rods, motorcycles, racing cars, and even airplanes.

In 1971, Geoff graduated from Yale University with a degree in Economics. After college, while waiting to start work as a stockbroker at a firm in San Francisco, Geoff took a summer job as a mechanic at the Lamborghini dealership owned by his friends’ father. What was to be a brief adventure ended up redirecting his life. He never became a stockbroker, but instead, turned his love of cars and speed into his profession. After various jobs as a mechanic and as a semi-professional race car driver, in the 1980’s, Geoff founded GP Enterprises in Redwood City, a business he ran for over forty years. He serviced, repaired and restored Ferraris and Lamborghinis, specializing in older models. Vehicles came to his shop from all over the country. Geoff took regular trips to Italy where he had many friends and business associates and where he worked with restoration specialists to enhance his skills. Geoff was truly an industrial artist, though he was much too modest to describe himself in that way.

Geoff loved his work and continued working until his death. He loved go-kart racing with his wonderful group of very competitive racing friends at Sonoma Raceway. He also loved ice hockey and was a loyal San Jose Sharks season-ticket holder for more than twenty years.

Most of all, Geoff loved his daughter, Alexandra. He loved being her father and found this to be the most fulfilling part of his life. He coached her soccer teams; supported her in her competitive figure skating career; encouraged her in her academic pursuits and professional endeavors; and helped her to move into any new place she would live. She was the light of his life.

In addition to his daughter, Geoff leaves behind his beloved fiancée, Helen Sirica, and her sons, Paolo and Danny Speirn; his five siblings: Carter, Kent, Blake, Darcy and Christopher; four nephews; and his former wife, Suzie, Alex’s mother, with whom he remained close friends.

Geoff’s fiancée cared for him during his time of illness and was with him when he died, that checkered flag waving furiously, signaling the finish line. Geoff drove a great race. And we loved him. In his memory, please enjoy a beautiful drive somewhere, at times, at speed. He would like that.

In closing, the family would like to thank the entire staff involved in Geoff’s care at the Stanford Medical Center, especially Dr. Monica Dua and Dr. Gregory Heestand. Please know that Geoff always had great peace of mind with the care he received from you; and he appreciated so much your patience and compassion.