Obituary of Jeffrey D. Beach

JEFFREY D. BEACH Latham-Jeffrey D. Beach, age 53, died peacefully January 6, 2009 at St. Peter's Hospice Inn from a rare, incurable cancer. He fought long and hard to live his life as fully as he could, defying his prognosis right up to the end. Jeff was born in Troy, NY to Shirley and Dale Beach and grew up in Latham and was a graduate of Shaker High School. He received an Associates Degree in Forestry from Morrisville Agricultural and Technical School where he graduated first in his class. He also received both a Bachelors Degree in Forestry and a Masters Degree in Land Use Planning from Colorado University in Fort Collins. Jeff began his career as a Zoning and Planning Administrator for Harvey County in Kansas and later worked for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as a Land Use Planner. At the time of his death, Jeff had worked for the NYS Department of State as a Coastal Resources Specialist for 24 years. Jeff was a life long environmentalist and outdoors enthusiast. He loved to ski, bicycle, hike, canoe and sail. He spent the last four years of his life sailing on Lake Champlain on the family's boat Outlook. Jeff was a life member of the Sierra Club and had been active in the club for many years while in Kansas and New York. Jeff is survived by his wife, Sandra Rhoades, and two children, Jon Beach and Amelia Beach both at home; his father Dale (Joan) Beach of Latham; his brother Eric (Liz) Beach of Endicott; his stepbrothers John Bickford of Catskill and Robert (Susan) Bickford of Annville, PA; his stepsister Barbara Kirker of Elizabethtown, PA; he is also survived by two uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other loved family and many friends. The family cats Snowflake and Harley also survive him. His mother, Shirley Wheeler Beach, predeceased Jeff in 1983. The family would like to thank Drs. Nini Wu and Todd Doyle of NYOH for encouraging Jeff to explore many options for battling his disease. Many thanks also go to the staff of the Hospice Inn at St. Peters for their compassionate care of Jeff and kind support for the family. Special mention goes to nurses Geri, Bill and Leslie, and to nursing assistants Tricia and Corrine. A Celebration of Jeff's Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, January 11 at Calvary United Methodist Church, Belle Avenue, Latham, with Reverend David Lockwood presiding. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Saturday, January 10 from 2-5 pm at the Dufresne and Cavanaugh Funeral Home 149 Old Loudon Rd., Latham Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeff's honor can be made to Calvary United Methodist Church of Latham NY 12110, or to PMP Pals Network, PO Box 6484, Salinas CA 93912. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com