Kurt Erik Giessler, 31, of Plymouth, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Mr. Giessler was the son of Kenneth and Karen (Mello) Giessler, of Plymouth, and the brother of Kristen Giessler, of Ashland.
Born Aug. 8, 1980, in Worcester, he attended Plymouth schools and was a 1998 graduate of Plymouth North High School, where he was an active member of the robotics, math, and debate teams. He continued his education at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. and earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering in 2005.
Mr. Giessler worked as an engineering teacher at Hanover High School, where he also coached the school’s robotics team.
He fought a life-long battle with heart and lung disease. Growing up, he faced multiple surgeries and procedures and, ultimately, was the recipient of a heart-lung transplant in 2001 and a second lung transplant in 2007, both conducted at Duke Medical Center in North Carolina.
After 30 years of challenging and repeatedly beating all the medical odds against him, two years ago he faced a new pulmonary complication with little promise of treatment or hope of survival, yet, he characteristically surprised all the medical experts and continued to grow stronger and more active. His brief and final battle, however, was with lymphoma.
In addition to his parents and sister, Mr. Giessler is also survived by his special friend Lisa Ioannilli and his beloved cat, Kweli.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Davis Funeral Home, located at 619 State Road in Manomet, Mass.
A memorial celebration will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, located off Water Street in downtown Plymouth, Mass.
In support of Mr. Giessler’s passion for education, donations may be made to the Kurt Giessler Foundation for Youth Achievement, c/o P.O. Box 860, Plymouth, MA 02362.