Obituary of James Alan Gregory Beck

James Alan Gregory Beck

James Alan Gregory Beck, 57 of South Huntington, NY passed away tragically this past Saturday, November 19th.   Born in Norfolk, VA as the son of a Naval officer he lived around the U.S., in  Monterey, CA, San Diego, CA, and abroad in Atsugi and Yokohama Japan.  James came back to Greenlawn, NY to finish his high school years and met several best friends for life, before he left for college where he earned his degree B.A. in History, State University of New York, Oswego and a MA in Public and International  Affairs, University of Pittsburg, where he made several life long friends during his studies.  He was most proud during this time of education to have earned his Certificate from Julius-Maximilians-Universitat from Wurzburg, Germany

By the time he finished his education and was ready to start a career he moved to Washingon DC.  Not only did he begin his working career but he started on a different journey in life where he met the love of his life.  The years rolled forward with marriage and two beautiful daughters that filled his life with joy, pride and amazement.

To know James, was to look at all the angles of joy in life and his unique way of looking at it with humor, lots of conversation, and more conversation.  His curiosity about all things may have driven us all mad at one time or another, but it was his humor, kindess and genuiness that made him irresistible and caused those around him to love him.  I mean who else as a kid gets his bike tossed and sworn at by John Lennon? And thinks it’s great?  Conversations with him were anything but predictable topics, but his love for music was the only thing in life that could come close to competing with his love for his family.  He found peace from the chaotic world we lived in with his guitar.  Noodling his songs from his heart was what he did best; no requests were ever solicited nor wanted.

His loss is immeasurable, a presence that cannot be replaced, but for those of us who must find a way, we will follow his resilience, his stubborness to never give up no matter what. There may be days we stumble, but every new day is a new hope to find peace.

James was predeceased by his mother, Ella Beck, and his brothers Ed and Joe Beck. He is survived by his loving wife Karen, his daughters Olivia and Sabrina, his sister Judi and her husband John Kelly, his brother Vic and Debby Beck, and his sister Jane, as well as his father Victor Beck and his wife Theresa.