Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to honor and remember former state Sen. Robert Geake. The flag lowering will coincide with the date of the funeral.

“State Sen. Robert Geake honorably served Michigan in both chambers of our legislature,” said Governor Whitmer. “His expertise in education and psychology helped him make meaningful contributions both to his community as a practitioner and in the legislature as a committee member and creator of the Office of the Child Advocate. My thoughts are with his wife, children, and all who knew him as father, husband, family, or friend."

Robert Geake was born in Detroit in 1936, growing up in Ferndale and settling with his wife in Northville in 1962 where he would later begin his career in public service. Geake earned three degrees from the University of Michigan, including a Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Psychology in 1963.

He brought expertise in educational psychology to his early research work as a coordinator of child development research at the Edison Institute in Dearborn and as director of psychology at Plymouth State Home and Training School under the Michigan Department of Mental Health. Geake also owned a private practice in Northville and taught at Madonna College.

After serving on the Schoolcraft Community College board, Geake began in the Michigan House of Representatives where he would serve three terms before being elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1977. Through 20 years in the state senate, Geake chaired subcommittees on Mental Health, Social Services, and Capital Outlay. Notably, he co-authored the legislation to create the Michigan Office of Children’s Ombudsman in 1994, which led to his serving as the Children’s Ombudsperson under former Gov. John Engler in his post legislative career.

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor, and service of former state Sen. Robert Geake by lowering flags to half-staff. To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

Flags should be returned to full staff on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.