James Harm Beverwyk

James Harm Beverwyk, 68, long-time resident of the Lyden community, passed away suddenly on December 24, 2013, following a heart attack. Jim, born in Zeeland, Michigan, attended secondary school in Grand Rapids, and in 1967 earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Michigan State University. Soon thereafter, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Mary Parsaca, and in 1968 together they joined the Peace Corps and served as secondary school teachers in Tara'nganya, Kenya.

Upon their return, the couple moved to Los Alamos in 1971 where Jim founded the Middle Earth Youth Center. From 1972 through 1980 Jim served as Director of Jemez House Children's Ranch in Alcalde and in the following years until his retirement in 2010, held various counseling and teaching positions.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Evelyn Nienhuis Beverwyk, a brother, John Beverwyk, and parents-in-law, Peter and Helen Parsaca.
Jim is survived by his partner of 45 years, Mary Parsaca, his daughter Tana Beverwyk-Abouda and husband, Mustapha Kamel Abouda, their sons, Malik and Elias, of Nambe, a brother, Robert Beverwyk and wife, Carole, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, beloved nieces, Jessica Ricardo of New Orleans and Mara E. Beverwyk of West Bloomfield, Michigan, adopted sons, Tony Padilla of Petaluma, California and Jimmy Leal and wife Loretta Garcia, of Española, and sisters, Larke Beverwyk of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Jackie Lyttle, of Grand Haven, Michigan.
Jim's large extended family, including sisters- and brothers-in-law, close friends, Lyden neighbors, work associates, and friendly bowling companions are also remembered with affection.
Jim was known as an accepting friend, a helpmate, a community activist, a supporter of the needy, an outdoorsman with a deep affinity to the land, the mountains, and the animals that surrounded him at his beloved home in Lyden.
A celebration of Jim's life will be held at the Alcalde Community Center on Saturday, January 4, 2014, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Jim's name be sent to the San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen, 216 S.R. 399, Española, NM 87532, the Española Teen Center, 1450 Iris St., Los Alamos, NM 87544 or online at laymca.org, or Somos Un Pueblo Unido, 1804 Espinacitas St., Santa Fe, NM 87505.