IN MEMORIAM: CHARLES BEACH
Mr. Charles Beach passed away yesterday morning. Mr. Beach is the father of Islanders Operations VP Tim Beach, who in my 20 years of working for the Islanders was the best colleague you and I could ever wish to have. If you were at the Al Arbour game or any of the number-retirement ceremonies, you know of Tim’s work.
I only met Mr. Beach briefly a few times, but I do know he was one heck of a father. You don’t raise a kid with Tim’s hustle, sense of humor and with his intense dedication to the true meaning of teamwork by accident. I’m told the Phil Hartman-like dryness of both Tim and his brother Chip’s humor comes directly from Charles.
Mr. Beach, who passed away at the age of 79, battled emphysema for much of the last decade. You’d never know it by his energy, his ability to bring a smile to everyone concerned about him. “My kingdom for a beer,” he’d declare. “What’s up with those Islanders?” he’d ask.
Three years ago, the medical experts recommended hospice and prepared the Beach family to say goodbye at anytime. Three years ago. He was a fighter. Have to believe the recent birth of Tim and Linda Beach’s daughter might have been the latest goal.
God bless you, Mr. Beach. If it’s true we’re judged in large part by the children we leave behind, you’ve got some legacy, sir.
23 Responses to IN MEMORIAM: CHARLES BEACH
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Jimmy Sparx says:
Excellent job Chris.
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OA PEST says:
Thoughts and prayers to the Beach family.
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Mike from Philly says:
Sorry to hear about your loss Tim.
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You talk about what a fighter he was, and I believe it. I love that entire generation of people and what they represent. They went through so much and came through it making America and the whole world a better place. They were born into hardship, risked their lives to fight for justice, created the first suburbs right here in LI, they were entrepeneurs and amazingly hard workers, they raised the standard of living for their children, they even invented rock and roll! We owe so much to them and its always sad to see another representative leave us.
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Paul* says:
My Condolence’s to the Beach Family and friends. I will keep you in my prayers.
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Strummer's Army says:
My condolence’s to all the Beach’s. When we lose someone we love all we can do is focus on all that was good about them and the special memories we have of them. God rest his soul!
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kevin says:
RIP
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cgs878 says:
Condolences to the Beach Family on their loss.
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That’s terrible. But to live til 79 with emphysema for a decade is pretty good. No amount of our condolences will fix his family’s sorrow. But showing so many people what a good man he was and how he was loved will hopefully help the family in their grieving. I am sorry to hear that we lost a good man when there are so many creeps out there nowadays! My condolences to his family.
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Mrk says:
I never met the man but I like guys like that.
A civil war era poem:
Gone from where the roses are faded,
Gone from where the meadows are bare.
To a land of orange blossoms shaded,
And spring ever lingers in the air.Rest peacefully Mr. Beach.
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Larry says:
Very well said cb. Sounds like a great man and a great family, our thoughts are with them.
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Akeem says:
It’s unfortunate that the loss of a good man is what had to happen for poetry to make its debut on PB…in all seriousness, condolences to Tim and his family. It sounds like the world lost a special guy yesterday…
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kingbet123 says:
Condolences to the Beach family.
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Sorry if the poem bothered you Akeem.
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No, quite the contrary, I loved it – hence the comment that I wish some poetry had appeared sooner on the blog. It’s a shame stuff like that only appears in the face of tragedy…
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Understood.
Peace to Mr. Beach.
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Angelica says:
RIP Mr. Beach
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love me some sillinger says:
What a lovely tribute, CB. The family is in our thoughts and prayers.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
R.I.P. Mr. Beach
Sorry to hear about the loss of a good man, thoughts and prayers with his family an friends. RIP Mr Beach.