Frederick Anthony Geist was born on October 13, 1890 in New York to Frederick Anthony Geist and Sophia Marie Wolters. His father Frederick was born in Hanau, a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany; his mother Sophia was born in Manhattan (her parents Fred and Annie were natives of Germany). Frederick Sr. worked as a Salesman.
Frederick had three older siblings: William Frederick Geist (1883-1980), Elsie Maude Geist (1886-1975), and George Washington Geist (1889-unknown); and five younger siblings: Arthur Walter Geist (1893-1972); Lillian Emma Geist (1895 - unknown); Hubert Bertram Geist (1897-1972); Laurence Paul Geist (1901- unknown), and Dorothy Geist (1907-1999).
Frederick spent his childhood living in Manhattan, including on East 88th Street and on East 82nd Street, and in the South Bronx at 829 E 165th St.
Frederick was a US military veteran and served overseas during World War I (and thereafter) - from July 31st, 1918 to June 19, 1919. He was honorably discharged on June 24, 1919. He did not receive any wounds or other injuries in action.
He later married his wife Margaret and moved to Flushing, Queens, where he lived until his death at age 89 in October, 1979.