Edward Hale Beckmann

February 3, 1925 - February 18, 2018
Edward Hale Beckmann, age 93 years old, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, February 18, 2018, in Santa Clara, California.

Hale, as he was known to friends and family, was a long time resident of Saratoga, California.

Hale was born on February 3, 1925, in Ferdinand, Indiana to the late Edward John and Gladys Lucille (Hail) Beckmann. He was the oldest of five children.

He graduated from Jasper High School, in Jasper Indiana, in 1942. He attended the Indianapolis College of Pharmacy (now known as Butler University), Indiana University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Southern California in 1951.

Hale is a proud veteran of WWII. In 1943, he proudly enlisted and served on active duty as a Pharmacist's Mate with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1944, he was sent to the South Pacific and joined the 1st Marine Division as a Hospital Corpsman on Guadalcanal. He took part in the invasion of Okinawa, landing with the 27th attack wave on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. After securing Okinawa, he spent eight months in Tientsin, China. He was honorably discharged in June 1946.

In the fall of 1943 while briefly stationed in Connecticut, Dad met the love of his life, the beautiful 16 year old Isabel Ann "Dolly" Piedade at a Girl's Service Organization dance. He was immediately smitten with her and so began a storybook romance that spanned the oceans of the world. After the war, and after Dolly graduated from the University of Connecticut, they married in Dolly's hometown of Old Saybrook, Connecticut in 1948. They were married for 61 years until Dolly's passing in 2010. Hale took his marriage vows to Dolly very seriously, and when she became ill in the mid-2000's he carefully made sure the house was modified to be accessible to her, and kept her comfortable at home. He cared for her himself for several years, bathing, dressing, and feeding her, until it became too difficult as he aged, and then he continued to keep her home with the help of caregivers until her death. His loving devotion to her was unwavering and is a testament to his character and to the moral fiber he is made of.

After graduation from USC in 1951, Hale began his professional career with Pfizer Laboratories. He rose through the ranks, and became the Western Region Sales Manager for the United States, responsible for all Pfizer Laboratories sales in eight states which included California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii. His position with Pfizer took the family to southern California, Lake Oswego OR, Palo Alto CA, and ultimately Saratoga. He retired from Pfizer in 1971, and then became the Director of the Family Planning Clinic at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco, CA. He later worked for Toshiba and was responsible for sales of their cutting-edge ultrasound technology equipment, and finally, in sales of Xray equipment with Picker Corporation.

Dad was a family man. He was an unselfish provider for his family. Without hesitation, he commuted more than two and a half hours every day to his office in San Francisco so that his family could live in beautiful Saratoga and his children could attend the Saratoga schools. He encouraged each of his children (and then his grandchildren) to work hard, go to college, study hard, apply themselves, and pursue their individual dreams. He helped his son Jeff reach Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. He took the family on annual camping trips to Camp Mather, ski trips to Lake Tahoe, visits to Disneyland, and explored national parks like Yosemite. He taught all of us to have a strong moral compass, the value of a dollar, and what it means to work hard for your money.

In addition to his role as loving husband, devoted father, and friend, Hale loved the outdoors; particularly fly fishing for trout in streams. He tied his own flies and practiced "catch and release". Locals near the streams he frequented referred to him as the "Old Man on the River." He also loved sailing, and the family enjoyed many years sailing their Islander Bahama sailboat (appropriately christened "Hale-O-Dolly") around San Francisco Bay and Oakland.

He absolutely LOVED growing fruit and vegetables. Every year for over 34 years, until he could no longer walk well, he had a huge garden, so big that he would harvest and hand-deliver a cornucopia of fresh vegetables and fruit to neighbors and co-workers. During the bountiful early years, his fruit tree orchard boasted figs, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, cherries, apples, and more. He loved that orchard and every tree, twig, leaf, and clump of dirt in it. (He didn't care much for the gophers though). He took great pride and pleasure in sharing his good-fortune with others. He painstakingly cared for, fed, watered, talked to, coaxed, and groomed each plant, tree, bush, and vegetable. Towards the end of his life, he fed the squirrels and marveled as he watched lizards do little push-ups in the heat.

Dad loved to watch the 49'ers and the San Francisco Giants, as well as basketball and of course USC Trojan sports (Fight On!). He was very proud to have gone to and graduated from USC on the GI Bill, and to be a Trojan. In the old days, he carried around a little AM transistor radio in his front shirt pocket so he could follow a Giants game while he toiled in his "gentleman's orchard" out in the backyard. I can still hear the sports broadcaster Russ Hodges saying, "Bye-Bye, Baby!" Those were the days.

Hale was an exceptionally friendly, honest, kind, and generous man. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile for you. He had the rosiest cheeks ever. He never met a stranger. The number of people whose lives he touched is beyond description. He always made it a point to ask someone their name, and he would always remember their name and face, months or even years later. He took great pride in his ability to remember the tiniest details about a person and their family, and then when he saw you again, he would eagerly ask for an update about a son, daughter, mother, or father. He was genuinely interested in the lives and welfare of others. He made people feel special.

A cancer survivor, Hale continued to give back to the community by volunteering to be Santa at Canine Companions for Independence, The American Cancer Society, and various other non-profit charity events. With his naturally fluffy and full white beard, his trademark waxed handlebar mustache, and big belly, he was the perfect Santa for many children (and adults), year after year.

Although he is no longer with us, he left his family a legacy of love, honor, pride, thoughtfulness, kindness, generosity, perseverance, and hard work. We will cherish his memory for eternity. He was loved by so many and will be deeply missed. He lived a good, long life, and had no regrets. He accomplished everything he ever hoped to accomplish in his lifetime and more. We are comforted that his passing was peaceful and he was surrounded by family. We are heartened to know he is safe with Mom and reunited with his parents and siblings, and that they are all watching over us from above.

Hale is survived by his devoted children Thomas Beckmann, Debra Beckmann, and Jeffrey Beckmann; daughters-in-law Florence Beckmann and Angelica Beckmann, grandchildren Hope Beckmann, Kurt Beckmann, and Bruno Beckmann; nieces Laura (Beckmann) Bartle and Dr. Sara (Hatfield) Steelman; nephews Greg Beckmann and Dr. Mark Hatfield; and their wives and husbands. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Norma Lee (Simmons) Beckmann.

Hale was preceded in death by his beloved wife Dolly, his parents Edward John and Gladys Lucille (Hail) Beckmann, and his siblings Gloria (Beckmann) Hatfield, Marcus "Donnie" Beckmann, Charles Beckmann, and George Beckmann.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Vigil Service on Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 P.M. at The Alameda Family Funeral Home, 12341 Saratoga Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga, CA. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Church, 13716 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA. Burial will be immediately following the Mass at approximately 11:30 AM, at Madronia Cemetery, 14766 Oak Street, Saratoga, CA. Family and friends are invited to attend a reception following the burial, at The Alameda Family Funeral Home, 12341 Saratoga Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga, CA.