Arthur R. Giesen Jr., a resident of, as he would of said “the entire state of Virginia” passed away on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, after a brief stay at the Hospice House of the Shenandoah in Waynesboro, Va., at the age of 88, having lived his fullest life possible.
Pete, as he was known, was born in Radford on Aug. 8, 1932. His nickname came from his beloved big sister, Ann, who thought he looked like Peter Rabbit and the name stuck.
As a youth, Pete thrived in education and sports, playing basketball, baseball and football. Legend has it that while playing for Radford High School, Pete “accidentally” broke future Governor of Virginia John Dalton’s nose. Still, they remained lifelong friends and Republicans when Republicans were actually Republicans.
Following his high school graduation, Pete obtained his undergraduate degree from Yale and then earned a master’s degree in business from Harvard. Following his marriage to his first wife, Dorothy Hopkins, Pete landed a job at Westinghouse and moved to Staunton, Va. After his stint at Westinghouse, Pete founded and became President of Augusta Steel Corporation.
Along the way, he fathered six children, was a faithful member of Christ Lutheran Church in Staunton, and served his community in numerous philanthropic organizations such as the Virginia Mental Health Association. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
Pete’s father, Arthur R. “Ott” Giesen, a colonel during WWII, was a mayor of Radford while his mother, Charlotte “Pinky” Giesen, was the first female Republican elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. So it would seem only natural that Pete would run for the Virginia House, winning a seat in 1963.
Soon to be known as “The Mediator of Virginia Politics” as he was a great compromiser, Pete became and remained a dignified, graceful, and honest force in Virginia state politics for over three decades: a force for mental health, a force for racial equality, and a force for all citizens of his beloved Virginia.
He was constantly traveling back and forth between the Richmond capitol and his home base of Staunton, making fast, yet quality time for his political career, his business career, and his family. As a politician and a businessman, Pete never met a stranger; everyone was a friend. While working in the Richmond legislature, he met Pat Elliot, who became his second wife in 1983, and they added three more children to the family roster.
After retiring from Virginia state politics, Pete continued on various boards and made attempts at trying to be a golfer. He started the “Pete Giesen Mental Health Golf Tournament,” which provided scholarships for students majoring in mental health occupations at Blue Ridge Community College.
Beginning in 2007 and until 2020, he taught at James Madison University. Known as “Professor Pete,” he taught in the university’s political science department, concentrating on local and state politics. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching, enjoyed the students he taught and they enjoyed him. A student once sent a thank-you note to “Professor Pete” and said, to paraphrase, “Pete will talk your ear off, but you never minded losing that ear.”
Writer, Maxime Lagace wrote, “Life is a mountain. Your goal is to find your path, not, necessarily, to reach the top.” Arthur R. “Pete” Giesen, Jr., found his path and walked it every day with love, intelligence, grace, and a constant contagious enthusiasm.
God bless you Pete.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; his daughters Ann Smith, Beth Esterling, Mary Tucker, Kim Elliot and Amy Elliot; and his sons Jay Giesen, Jon Giesen, and Robert Giesen; Pete also grew to be a true father to Jake Paul-Sauer, one of eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Beth Sauer-Holmes.
A private family ceremony will be conducted on April 24, 2021, with a celebration of life ceremony to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Hospice of the Shenandoah (augustahealth.com) and/or the Mental Health America of Augusta (mha-augusta.org).
