Genevieve Louise Sounia (Rickmeyer), ESIA BA ’00, passed away from breast cancer on July 13, in her Pinehurst, NC home. She was 34.
Sounia was born on August 18, 1978 to Robert and Anne Rickmeyer of Hicksville, New York. She received a BA in international affairs from GW, while on a dance and ROTC scholarship. During her studies, she interned at the Department of State – Nuclear Proliferation Department.
Upon graduation in 1999, Sounia received a commission in the US Army as an Adjutant General Officer and began her service in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she met her husband, Phillip. Sounia deployed to combat in 2003, during the opening months of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where she was promoted to captain.
After returning to the US, Sounia and Phillip married on June 13, 2004. After revisiting Germany and traveling extensively, they settled in the US in 2006. In 2007, the couple welcomed their daughter Ava.
In 2008, Sounia earned her master’s degree in management and leadership; the family moved to Pinehurst in December of that year. Sounia supported her family through two consecutive deployments to Afghanistan (2009) and Iraq (2010). In 2009, she gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Elise.
Sounia was active in the 82nd Airborne Division’s Family Readiness Group and served as the Squadron Family Readiness Group Leader throughout 2010 and 2011.A
After her diagnosis in 2011, Sounia vowed to keep living life to the fullest. She continued to care for her daughters, and took on other adventures. This included exploreing the Redwood Forest in 2011, hiking the Grand Canyon with her husband for four days in 2012, and kayaking the rapids of the Rocky Mountains on a four-day expedition with First Descents in June of 2013. She also established a cancer support group at the Clara McLean House in Pinehurst and was actively involved in establishing support for others.
Sounia is survived by her husband, LTC Phillip D. Sounia, and their two daughters, Ava Louse Sounia and Elise Genevieve Sounia. She is also survived by her sister, Elizabeth D’Imperio and brother, CPT Paul Rickmeyer.
The family will hold viewings at the Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines on July 16 and 17 from 1-5 PM and 7-9 PM. The family will hold a Memorial Service at 7 PM there on July 17. The funeral will be held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines on July 18 at 11am.
Memorial donations may be sent to Genevieve’s Girls at: USAA account number 0160123585, routing number 314074269.
Update:
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11:00am at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 99 Central Park Rd. Plainview, N.Y. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking you to consider helping them establish a memorial scholarship in Genevieve’s name at her high school alma mater, Long Island Lutheran. Contributions can be made on-line at www.luhi.org.
